ESE March10 p18_19_Layout 1 26/02/2010 13:38 Page 1
18 TIME TO MARKET
PEI's 65,000ft² European connector
assembly facility in Southampton
Buying connectors:
the third option
Rapid delivery, wrong product or right part, long lead-times.
It's a choice connector buyers are familiar with, but there
is a third option, says European marketing manager for
PEI-Genesis, Doug Mercer
When purchasing most types of electronic component, buyers are chance that the
faced with a simple choice: either source it direct from the particular connector the
manufacturer or deal with a distributor. Generally speaking, high- customer requires will
volume orders will be placed with manufacturers, while not be a stock item.
distributors will be the preferred route if the product is required
in a hurry. For connectors, both of these options are available, but
Best of both
European
marketin
g manag
er,
buyers may well find that neither is entirely satisfactory.
P
EI-Genes
is, Doug
Mercer
The choice for the buyer
The connector manufacturer is responsible for the whole
appears to be either to
process of developing a product and bringing it to market,
purchase the nearest equivalent product that the distributor has
including design, production, quality-assurance and testing. The
in stock and receive it the next day or to order exactly the right
buyer may feel more comfortable dealing with the manufacturer,
connector from the manufacturer and wait a couple of months.
but orders are likely to be subject to lead times running into
Buyers who have found themselves in this position will be glad to
several weeks, as well as sometimes unwelcome minimum order
know that there is in fact a third option: the connector assembly
quantities (MOQs). Especially in a tough economic climate, few
specialist.
companies can afford the luxury of carrying unnecessary
additional inventory.
Whereas connector manufacturers design and produce the
connector shells, inserts, contacts and ancillary components, the
On the other hand, the general approach of the broadline
connector assembly specialist stocks large quantities of those
distributor is to carry stocks of standard products and to provide a
piece-parts and only assembles products in response to individual
rapid delivery service on those items. This may work well for
customer orders. This approach offers massive benefits to buyers:
other types of product, but connectors are different.
not only can they source the exact connector they need, but they
While there are some simple connectors that could be
can have it straight away – and with no MOQs.
considered standard products, very often today’s electronic
In the case of PEI-Genesis, the company carries a $60 million
systems require a complex multi-pin connector whose
inventory of connector piece-parts between its 65,000ft²
configuration is specific to the particular application in hand.
European assembly facility in Southampton and its US facility in
Even popular product lines such as D-subminiatures and multi-
South Bend, Indiana. This massive investment, coupled with in-
pin circular connectors can be configured in hundreds of
house developed production machines to automate the assembly
different ways with regard to shell style and size, insert pattern
process, means that the company is able to offer a 48-hour
and contact type.
assembly service across an extremely wide range of
So, although broadline distributors are able to supply product interconnection products for applications in the industrial,
the next working day, usually with no MOQ, there is a good transportation, defence and aerospace sectors.
MArch 2010
electronics-sourcing.eu
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