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Nolan’s Notes: The Interconnectedness of a Global Supply Chain

You may recall when I’ve discussed the research and development of a particular magazine issue topic and how, at times, I’ve pivoted at the last minute because of what I learned from the information I’ve gathered. This month, my original focus was on cultivating your brand, but the more I investigated the topic, the more my subject experts leaned toward international supply chain strategies. Not surprisingly, these two disparate topics are far more interrelated than they might seem.

A recent report from the Global Electronics Association stipulates that electronics manufacturing is the single most integrated global supply chain1; not even the automotive industry is as globally integrated as the electronics sector. As governments and industry players work to create more regional resiliency in the supply chain, it’s very clear that our industry will continue to be one of the most globally integrated industrial supply chains. The report states:

• Trade inputs and finished goods reached $4.5 trillion
• More than 20% of global merchandise trade overall is electronics
• Electronic components alone reached $408 billion in 2023
• Inputs (not finished goods) now represent most of the electronics trade

The report makes some more qualitative assertions as well:

• China has a key role as both a component buyer and a finished product seller
• Southeast Asian countries are surging into the electronics space as local markets and global suppliers
• No single country can replicate the multi-national value chain behind modern electronics. International coordination will be key

An input is a component or subassembly required for the finished good: semiconductors, batteries, sensors, wiring harnesses, and, of course, circuit boards. As EMS providers, depending on whether you drop ship for your OEM customers, you are or are very close to the end of the supply chain. The report states, “Global input flows are not just a prelude to final assembly, they are the core of the value chain.”1 Likewise, in a recent interview with Marcy LaRont, David Schild, executive director of the Printed Circuit Board Association of America, said, “You're starting to see a recognition across the ecosystem that everybody outside of semiconductors has been largely forgotten in the public policy discussion around reshoring and restoring capacity.”2 While his advocacy organization is focused on U.S. resilience, the sentiment applies globally. 

So, how does this relate to your brand? A brand is more than your logo; it’s the customer’s perception or feeling about your offering. Your brand encompasses how you express yourself and the impression it leaves on the audience. Depending on what your brand stands for, it either cultivates or discourages customer loyalty. How you manage your role in the supply chain, therefore, affects your brand. 

Like the saying, “All roads lead to Rome,” all discussions lead back to supply chain. Even discussing our respective brands brings our vendor management practices under scrutiny. Sustainability is a growing concern in the maintenance of our brands; if you’ve cultivated a shorter, more responsive and resilient chain than your competitors, then you’re likely to be more competitive, with more reliable delivery times. Those attributes boost your brand.

To bring these two ideas together, we start with an interesting discussion on U.S and North American reshoring trends from Harry Moser and Kathy Nunnally. I’m also sharing an article by Dr. Shawn DuBravac that originally appeared in the Summer 2025 issue of Community Magazine on the interconnectedness of our supply chain. Thiago Guimaraes, director of industry intelligence at the Global Electronics Association, teases a new report soon to be released on business operations software solutions for EMS suppliers. M&A expert Tom Kastner sits for an interview to answer: Is there a power shift in ownership for U.S. manufacturing?

Our cadre of columnists this month includes CEE’s Tom Yang discussing what Chinese PCB fabricators offer the world market, and Josh Casper dives into what matters today in pick-and-place machine selection. Mike Konrad talks about the importance of connection in cultivating your brand, and Dr. Jennie Hwang wraps up her review of the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting. Her column is touching and deeply human. Read part one here.

If this “supply chain affects your brand” topic gets you fired up, I encourage you to download a copy of the report, “Interconnected: Global Electronics Trade in an Age of Disruption,” available at electronics.org.

Until next month, I look forward to your stories and opinions. Our conversations with you help direct the content of the magazine, as this month’s slight course correction demonstrates. Reach me at nolan@iconnect007.com.

References

1. “Interconnected: Global Electronics Trade in an Age of Disruption,” by Global Electronics Association.
2. “PCBAA’s David Schild: Where U.S. Electronics Manufacturing Stands Today,” July 14, 2025.

This column originally appeared in the August 2025 issue of SMT007 Magazine.