-
-
News
News Highlights
- Books
Featured Books
- smt007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueProduction Software Integration
EMS companies need advanced software systems to thrive and compete. But these systems require significant effort to integrate and deploy. What is the reality, and how can we make it easier for everyone?
Spotlight on India
We invite you on a virtual tour of India’s thriving ecosystem, guided by the Global Electronics Association’s India office staff, who share their insights into the region’s growth and opportunities.
Supply Chain Strategies
A successful brand is built on strong customer relationships—anchored by a well-orchestrated supply chain at its core. This month, we look at how managing your supply chain directly influences customer perception.
- Articles
- Columns
- Links
- Media kit
||| MENU - smt007 Magazine
Manufacturing Isn’t Linear; Stop Planning That Way
August 21, 2023 | Sylvain Perron, CogiscanEstimated reading time: 2 minutes

In the last couple of years, exacerbated by the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic, the uncomfortable reality is that many manufacturers are not well prepared to properly deal with and respond to last minute changes in the supply chain, worker availability, or major swings in customer demand. Many of you likely have a painful story or two about scrambling to address unexpected changes in the production plan and schedule over the last few years.
With the pandemic mostly in the rearview mirror, many organizations today are investing in solutions that will better equip them to handle any major disruption using tools that will provide both enhanced intelligence and agility. We can’t control the future, nor any surprise disruptions to the global marketplace or supply chain, but we can look at our digital transformation strategy, and more specifically, digital visibility tools that help us better plan production.
Adapting to Last Minute Changes
Given the current challenges related to component allocation and extended supply-chain lead times, manufacturers today are regularly being forced to change production plans due to last minute changes in material availability. It’s the sad truth that critical components often don’t arrive on the required date for production, and planners are left scrambling to figure out how to re-align the production flow. Planners need to be equipped with a tool that appropriately evaluates the reality of materials so production orders can be easily and efficiently re-scheduled if a critical component doesn’t show up when originally scheduled.
In many of these no-show material cases, planners need the flexibility to assess production options even without all required components, perhaps cutting the job in half based on available material and running that order through to the testing process, then holding those units at mechanical assembly until the rest of the order is ready to be built when the remaining material is in-house. The ability to identify and address risks beforehand ensures manufacturers can maintain continuity in operations and minimize the impact of no-show components.
Another complication many electronics manufacturers deal with regularly is when a top customer requests an urgent and hot order. These last-minute orders usually wreak havoc on production when they’re plopped in unexpectedly. Planners need visibility on how to effectively squeeze in an urgent order and clearly evaluate available capacity and downstream effects on production. Simultaneously balancing multiple delivery requirements can be nightmarish, so the ability to easily visualize and choose the least painful option—for example, weighting profit margins more heavily with minimal impact to the overall production plan—is of the utmost importance in these hot order situations.
To read this entire article, which appeared in the August 2023 issue of SMT007 Magazine, click here.
Testimonial
"Our marketing partnership with I-Connect007 is already delivering. Just a day after our press release went live, we received a direct inquiry about our updated products!"
Rachael Temple - AlltematedSuggested Items
Koh Young Discussing Ways to Apply Smart Factory Insights to Maximizing Productivity at SMTA Tijuana
10/14/2025 | Koh YoungKoh Young, the industry leader in True 3D measurement-based inspection solutions, will present at the SMTA Tijuana Expo & Tech Forum on November 13, 2025, at the Quartz Hotel in Tijuana, Baja California.
NEDME Returns October 22 — The Northwest’s Premier Design & Manufacturing Expo
10/13/2025 | NEDMEThe Northwest Electronics Design & Manufacturing Expo (NEDME) returns on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at Wingspan Event & Conference Center, Hillsboro. The event brings together engineers, product designers, manufacturers, educators, and community partners for a full day of industry connection, learning, and networking.
Tight Upstream Supply and Restocking Drive 2024 DRAM Module Revenue Growth of 7%
09/30/2025 | TrendForceTrendForce reports that following the completion of inventory digestion in the downstream consumer market concluded at the end of Q4 2023, DRAM suppliers shifted focus towards HBM and server DDR5 products, leading to tighter supply for other DRAM types.
Looking to Reduce Your Consumables Spend? Visit ROCKA Solutions at SMTA International
09/29/2025 | ROCKA SolutionsROCKA Solutions, a trusted North American manufacturer and distributor of high-quality consumables for the electronics manufacturing industry, is pleased to announce its participation at SMTA International 2025, taking place October 19–23, 2025, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois. Attendees can connect with the ROCKA team at Booth #2413.
Nordson Electronics Solutions Enables Seamless Integration of Actnano PFAS-Free Coatings With Asymtek Select Coat Conformal Coating Systems
09/23/2025 | Nordson Electronics SolutionsNordson Electronics Solutions, a global leader in reliable electronics manufacturing technologies, announces full compatibility of its industry-leading ASYMTEK conformal coating systems with actnano’s next-generation, PFAS-free materials.