Target Condition: Are Autorouters Friend or Foe?
Fresh PCB Concepts: Assembly Challenges with Micro Components and Standard Solder Mask Practices
The Electronic Component Shortage Crisis: A Veteran Engineer’s Perspective
February 18, 2019 | John Watson, CID, Legrand Inc.Estimated reading time: 1 minute
Most of us are familiar with the defense readiness condition (DEFCON) levels. If we could apply such a DEFCON level to the electronics industry and how it relates to the issue of component shortages, we would be sitting at a DEFCON 1, meaning nuclear war is imminent.
This issue has a huge effect on everyone who works in the electronics field, impacting schedules and how things are done. The problem began to hit in earnest about a year ago in 2017. It first appeared as longer lead times on multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) and tantalum capacitors. With longer lead times, the available stock began to disappear, and before we knew it, we had a perfect storm and an international crisis.
From where we stand now, at the beginning of 2019, we see lead times for some components in the short range of up to 16 weeks; medium-to-high is 32 weeks, and long lead times are as far out as 80 weeks. In other words, if we ordered a component today, it would arrive in over a year a half from now (maybe).
This all started with the capacitors (we will see why later), but we now see other component series being sucked into this problem.
With such volatility in the market, it has brought those who were not prepared for it to a standstill.
What Is Driving This Crisis?
It has come down to a simple principle of economics supply and demand. While the supply has gone way down, the demand for many components has exploded. The component manufacturers have not kept pace with the demand for several reasons.
There are three main sectors of the electronic industry driving these component shortages.
To read this article, which appeared in the January 2019 issue of Design007 Magazine, click here.
Share on:
Suggested Items
It’s Only Common Sense: Why Sales Teams Fail (and How to Fix Them)
06/22/2025 | Dan Beaulieu -- Column: It's Only Common SenseIn sales, success is never a given. Despite best intentions, the most well-resourced sales teams can stumble. Understanding why is the first step toward creating a high-performing sales force. Here are the main reasons sales teams fail—and actionable strategies to fix them.
STI Celebrates Travis Wease’s 10 Years of Dedicated Service
06/17/2025 | STI Electronics, Inc.STI Electronics, Inc., a full-service organization providing training services, training materials, analytical/failure analysis, prototyping, and contract electronic manufacturing, proudly celebrated the 10-year work anniversary of Travis Wease, Master Instructor and valued team member.
The Marketing Minute: A Brand Visibility Playbook—Get Seen, Heard, and Remembered
06/18/2025 | Brittany Martin -- Column: The Marketing MinuteIn the competitive world of electronics, recognition isn’t given—it’s earned. With so many companies vying for attention, how do you ensure your brand voice stands out and stays top-of-mind? This month, I’m focusing on building recognition using three high-impact tools: social media, paid advertising, and thought leadership.
The Government Circuit: From Tax Policy to Tariffs, Denver to Delhi, Speaking Up for Electronics
06/18/2025 | Chris Mitchell -- Column: The Government CircuitI had the privilege of attending the June 3 opening ceremony of AT&S’s HTB3 facility in Leoben, Austria—a milestone moment for Europe’s electronics ecosystem. HTB3 is now the first and only facility in Europe capable of both developing and producing high-performance IC substrates—the advanced platforms that allow powerful chips to connect, process, and function. As demand for AI, 5G, and other cutting-edge technologies grows, so too does the need for sophisticated substrates like those HTB3 will produce.
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
06/13/2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007Today is Friday the 13th, and in much of Western folklore, this is a day when bad luck is lurking. But while Friday the 13th may top Western superstition charts, the global calendar is sprinkled with its own unlucky legends. In Spain and Greece, the bad juju lands on Tuesday the 13th—a day linked to Mars, the god of war, and naturally, chaos. In Italy, it’s Friday the 17th that is feared, thanks to the Roman numeral XVII, which can be rearranged to spell VIXI—Latin for “I have lived” (a poetic way of saying you’re dead).