Posts by Nate Larson

By Rob RangelThe worst-case scenario for modern manufacturers begins with a tiny, often unnoticed failure. A microcontroller of high value, believed to come from a trusted supplier, fails in the field, causing a massive product recall or an irreversible “line-down” situation that costs millions. In earlier times, a meticulous inspector might have spotted a poorly…

By Rob RangelThe electronics manufacturing sector has undergone significant changes. Recent years have shown us that a linear supply chain is vulnerable. With 2026 already here, OEMs and CMs are prioritizing resilience over just acquiring parts. The classic binary decision—depending only on franchised distributors with extended lead times or risking it with the open market—doesn’t…

By Rob RangelThe year 2026 marks a transformative period for the electronics sector, driven by the rapid growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI) infrastructure. Although public attention mainly focuses on high-performance GPUs and complex logic ICs, the essential backbone of this shift is rooted in passive components. As global hyperscalers and OEMs accelerate the development of…

By Rob RangelThis is a scenario that has become all too common in recent quarterly reviews. You open the latest quote for a Bill of Materials (BOM) that has been stable for years, only to see that the bottom line has shifted—and not in your favor. When you ask the supplier why the price has…

By Rob RangelWhen asked about the electronics industry, most people mention the rapid growth of AI giants and the surge in data centers. However, for purchasing managers or operations directors, the perspective shifts. To those tasked with maintaining production lines, the so-called “AI Boom” is leading to a “Supply Chain Squeeze.” Looking ahead to 2026,…

By Rob RangelThe current headlines are filled with discussions about Generative AI, Large Language Models (LLMs), and the autonomous vehicle revolution. For technology enthusiasts, this period represents an incredible era of innovation. However, for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in the industrial and medical sectors, this technological frenzy has sparked a fierce and quiet struggle for…

By Rob RangelThe narrative has changed. Today, if you look at technology news, the anxiety surrounding the global supply chain crisis of 2020-2021 appears to have faded, giving way to enthusiastic discussions about the AI revolution. Yet, for OEM Product Directors, Senior Hardware Engineers, and Purchasing Managers in the industrial and medical fields, the situation…

By Rob RangelIn the current market, the unavailability of a single, inexpensive transistor can completely disrupt a multi-million dollar product launch. This isn’t merely a slight delay; it’s a major crisis. Production lines can come to a standstill, deadlines for launches can be missed, and profitability can be jeopardized—all due to a component that costs…

By Rob RangelFor those involved in designing, manufacturing, or sourcing electronic products, the Bill of Materials (BOM) is essential. You understand that even a slight change in the cost of a single component can have a huge impact when calculated across millions of units, potentially determining whether a product is profitable or destined to fail.…

By Rob RangelThe global electronics supply chain is currently facing a challenging mix of geopolitical pressures and a diminishing supply of legacy components. For those directly involved—operations managers striving to keep production lines afloat, procurement specialists battling to secure inventory, and engineers racing to mitigate obsolescence—the situation is both urgent and critical. The Nexperia dispute…

By Rob RangelThe electronics industry is continuously changing, yet one major challenge persists: supply chain instability. For Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), lengthy lead times and shortages of components aren’t just theoretical risks; they pose serious threats to business operations. A hold-up in obtaining essential components can lead to postponed product launches, substantial revenue losses, decreased…

By Rob RangelUpdate (2026): What Actually Happened This article was published in October 2025 and forecast a significant memory price surge. The shift proved far larger than projected. DRAM contract prices climbed roughly 90–95% quarter-over-quarter in Q1 2026 and a further 58–63% in Q2 — a cumulative first-half increase well above 100% — while NAND…