EMS@C-LEVEL

PCB Buying Expert CEO and Founder, Greg Papandrew hardly needs introduction. There are few people that know more about the PCB industry, have written more or have spoken more frankly and openly than Greg.  In this in depth interview Greg and Philip Spagnoli Stoten explore the big issues impacting the industry, including supply chains easing, economic impacts, the nature of PCB buyers, The CHIPS Ac...

Greg Bradfield is the Vice President and General manager of Spartronics Aero and Defense business and has many years of experience in the sector. In this interview, Philip Stoten explores the current state of the market amidst renewed concern around national security and around supply chain security.  Greg and Philip chat about the technical demands in the field as well as the growth trajectory fo...

There’s been a lot of talk about digital transformation for most of the last decade. I’ve talked about it numerous times and often implied it is the solution to most problems, but is it, and when is digital transformation actually transformative to a business? EMS@C-Level is hosted by global inspection leaders Koh Young (https://www.kohyoung.com) and Global Electronics Association (https://www.ele...

Relationships can be hard, especially when there are external pressures. The relationship between OEM and EMS has been more under pressure than ever recently. Any relationship which consists of one party continuously telling the other that they are unable to meet their obligations is going to have challenges and will ultimately end up under stress. EMS@C-Level is hosted by global inspection leader...

I am editing EMSNOW for a week or so while Jennifer takes a well earned vacation. Each day I'll be posting my "Thoughts for the C-Suite" on the site and sharing them a couple of days later in audio for. Here's part #1 of 8, it's less than four minutes long. After years of constant disruption I believe the winners in the coming EMS race will be those with disruption in thei...

Microboard is an extremely focused EMS company led and owned by Nicole Russo. I was lucky enough to chat to Nicole recently about the strategy that guides a business that is proud to have only twenty customers and whilst delivering exceptional service to those customers finds the time and resources to help those less fortunate around the world.  Nicole offers her insight into the trends impacting...

Did we learn anything from the pandemic? That's the question I opened with when I reconnected with Season Group President & CEO Carl Hung, two years after we chatted at the start of the COVID-19 outbreak. We also explore designing for disruption as we look to the next disruption, that seems likely to be economic in its nature.  So, how do we create an industry that reflects the demands of...

Daniel Schoenfelder's careers has allowed him to observe the supply chain from many angles, from his time with FLEX in supply chain strategy to his time with Arrow, and as the head of Octopart, before taking the lead role in Nexar, a Business Unit of Altium LLC.  Dan joins industry journalist Philip Stoten to talk about EDDI (Electronic Design to Delivery Index) and the data and analytics beh...

What can you say about Mike Konrad? A successful entrepreneur, a maverick, a cleaning guru, a pod-caster, and an all-round nice guy who I like to think of as friend first and colleague second. Some thirty years ago Mike founded Aqueous Technologies, I caught up with him to discuss that thirty year journey.  Like every episode of EMS@C-Level this is sponsored by global inspection leader Koh Young (...

Following EMSNOW's recent survey of North American EMS companies, carried out in partnership with IPC, I caught up with publisher Eric Miscoll to explore the finding and his thoughts on the industry.  They discuss why such a list is important right now, what was learned about the changes taking place in the industry, the resiliency of these companies as they expand their service offerings to...

Following the announcement of the Altimade solution and the news in 2021 that Altium were participating in MacroFab's most recent funding round, I caught up with Altium Chief Ecosystem Office Ted Pawela and MacroFab Chief Executive Officer Misha Govshteyn.  In this 20 minute interview we explore the new solution and the importance of connecting the digital thread from design through manufactu...

Here's what Podcaster, Industry Guru and Founder of Aqueous Technologies Mike Konrad sees as the key trends in 2022. In this interview we dig into those predictions a little deeper.  "Predicting industry trends these days is much like predicting which number will come up at the roulette table (The odds are 1 in 36)! Travel restrictions and mask mandates seem to change more frequently tha...

Here's what Indium Corporation's President and COO Ross Berntson sees as the key trends in 2022. In this interview we dig into those predictions a little deeper.  "2021 was the year of the electric vehicle (EV), and it will continue well beyond 2022. This high impact technology suite will drive stunning innovations, including new power train technologies, faster and more efficient m...

Here's what Microart Services CEO Mark Wood sees as the key trends in 2022. In this interview we dig into those predictions a little deeper.  "You know it’s hard not to be excited and stressed, in almost equal measure, as we look forward to 2022. On one hand our orderbook is the strongest it has ever been, with more and more North American companies ordering their products in North Ameri...

Here's what Season Group's President and CEO Carl Hung sees as the key trends in 2022. In this interview we dig into those predictions a little deeper.  "For 2022, I foresee a supply chain crunch persisting and potentially worsening due to several reasons:  Many orders have been changed to non-cancellable non-reschedulable (NCNR) status which means that there is even less flexibilit...

Here's what Siemens Industry Software's Director of Business Development Electronics Manufacturing Oren Manor sees as the key trends in 2022. In this interview we dig into those predictions a little deeper.  "As discussions around the grim situation of planet Earth continue and the real-life implications of climate change across the globe become more and more evident, focus will be...

Here's what Aegis Software's Senior Director of Emerging Industry Strategy Michael Ford sees as the key trends in 2022. In this interview we dig into those predictions a little deeper. "With origins in 2011, Industry 4.0.2022 takes on more modern, mature responsibilities. Software-automation for Lean, flexible, defect-free manufacturing, has become established, but there are increas...

Here's what Principal xpts4xlnc Consultant Jürgen Thurner sees as the key trends in 2022. In this interview we dig into those predictions a little deeper. "When I look back on the year 2021 and the topics that defined industry and the economy in that year, the question that automatically comes to mind is what the defining topics will be in 2022.  From today's perspective, I can iden...

Here's what KATEK CEO Rainer Koppitz sees as the key trends in 2022. In this interview we dig into those predictions a little deeper.  "The order books are extremely full and as soon as the shortage subsides a bit, I expect the first rays of light to appear, hopefully in Q1 and Q2. Then there will be a boom in our industry. I also expect a significant boost for electronics in green techn...

Here's what Cogiscan Director of Business Development sees as the key trends in 2022. I asked him to dig into those predictions a little deeper.  "Digitalization, digitalization… digitalization! While many of us understood the value and importance of factory digitalization prior to 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly increased the pressure for accelerating digitalization in the...

Component shortages are top of mind for just about everyone in the industry right now, so it made perfect sense to talk to the man with his finger on the pulse. David Loftus is the President and CEO of ECIA (Electronic Component Industry Association) and has spent his career working in the industry and his insight is well worth listening to.  David and I dig into the what, the where, and the why o...

In this series of more than a dozen pre-show interviews Philip Stoten speaks to the exhibitors of Productronica 2021 about their expectations for the show and the new products they will be promoting. Philip and his guests also explore the latest trends in the European manufacturing industry.  In this episode Philip's guest is Håvard Korsvoll, CTO at Circular Components. EMS@C-Level is hosted...

There are some interviewees that are a pleasure to talk and share time with. Enics' President and CEO is one such interviewee. She has a passion for the industry, and a passion for Enics, their customers and the team they have built in Europe and around the world. Elke also understands exactly how the EMS industry is, and how it should be in the future! And she is plotting a course for Enics...

In this series of more than a dozen pre-show interviews Philip Stoten speaks to the exhibitors of Productronica 2021 about their expectations for the show and the new products they will be promoting. Philip and his guests also explore the latest trends in the European manufacturing industry.  In this episode Philip's guest is Valentin Storz, General manager EMAE, Nano Dimension EMS@C-Level is...

In this series of more than a dozen pre-show interviews Philip Stoten speaks to the exhibitors of Productronica 2021 about their expectations for the show and the new products they will be promoting. Philip and his guests also explore the latest trends in the European manufacturing industry.  In this episode Philip's guest is Klaus Gross, Managing Director of Fuji Europe Corporation GmbH. EMS...