EMSNOW spends time with the Electronic Component Industry Association (ECIA)’s Chief Analyst Dale Ford to unpack the group’s recently released Top 50 Authorized Distributors Report – Americas. Dale explains the background for this study, recent developments, and why the data is significant for the EMS community.
Part 1 of this must-listen conversation covers the surprises in the data for 2025 in terms of what end market sectors and component categories are experiencing growth and why. Dale also discuss the risks from component category imbalances, e.g. memory; and how to solve the ‘bull whip’ problem the semiconductor industry has wrestled with for decades.
Part 2 discusses the role of specialization in the higher growth rates of mid-tier distributors, the impact of tariffs, and how AI system design and edge computing can impact the amount of memory and data center capacity required. He concludes with a plea for more visibility and honest and clear communications between the EMS and OEM customer community and the component manufacturers and their distributors about ‘true demand’ to avoid repeating these under and over capacity cycles that hurt the businesses of everyone.
This is a wide-ranging and fascinating discussion from a component industry expert who has been immersed in the component supply chain for decades.
