The crisis in high-tech supply chains is about more than just microchips.
Most of the recent talk surrounding high-tech manufacturing supply chains has been about the severe shortage of microprocessors. Without question, that’s a serious issue, promoting enactment earlier this year of the CHIPS and Science Act, freeing up billions in government aid for chipmakers to reestablish a domestic manufacturing base. But equally important is the supply of printed circuit boards, into which the chips must be embedded as part of the production process. The U.S. currently relies on other countries, primarily China, for 96% of the supply of PCBs. On this episode, we discuss strategies for reestablishing a domestic supply of PCBs — how the U.S. surrendered a significant portion of production over the past 20 years, and what it will take to get that back — with the help of Travis Kelly, chief executive officer of Isola Group, and chairman of the Printed Circuit Board Association of America. It all comes down to a key question, he says: “What do we think is important?” Hosted by Bob Bowman, Editor-in-Chief of SupplyChainBrain.
Show notes:
A report from IPC on “Rebuilding the U.S. Electronics Supply Chain.”
