Posts by Nate Larson

By Rob RangelIn early April, we saw some of China’s largest cities placed under a new round of lockdowns due to an increase in infections from COVID-19’s Omicron variant. China’s zero-tolerance policy meant that many factories across China, including in Shanghai and Shenzhen were required to shut down, disturbing the electronics, consumer products, and automotive…

By Rob RangelSemiconductors have long been the building blocks and, ultimately, the brains behind electronics as we know them today. Often referred to as chips, semiconductors are used in thousands of different electronic products ranging from gaming consoles and appliances to smartphones and computers. COVID-19’s impact on the semiconductor industry is still being felt today.…

By Rob RangelSupply chain issues have become something to get accustomed to since the pandemic first began in 2020, effectively disrupting the world’s manufacturing and shipping capabilities and forcing many businesses to find new ways to work around supply chain disruptions. We’ve seen the ports be congested with cargo ships having to sit out on…

By Rob RangelThe Coronavirus wreaked havoc on supply chains across the globe and we are still feeling the effects today. We were all happy to see 2020 end, but it was hard to predict the long-term ramifications of a global shut down paired with an unprecedented demand for electronic products. As we put 2021 behind…

By Rob RangelOver a year has passed since the fire at the Asahi Kasei Microsystems (AKM) factory broke out, devastating the TCXO industry. This fire stopped production on roughly 70% of the global supply of integrated circuits required to manufacture TCXOs [1]. Although AKM has begun producing IC’s again, limited production capacity mixed with the…

By Rob RangelAs many of our customers know, the U.S west coast port congestion continues to affect supply chain management and sets record numbers for ship wait times. Suntsu has been experiencing delays on most of our ocean shipments since the start of the pandemic. What was once one to two-week delays has turned into…

By Rob RangelOver the last 12 months, the electronic components industry has experienced unprecedented challenges. Covid-19, elevated demand for consumer electronics, unexpected demand in the automotive market, and tensions between the U.S. and China have all conspired to create a perfect storm. The pressure on global supply chains can be felt across every sector, but…