EDN's Suzanne Deffree has posted an interview with Avnet Electronics Marketing (EM) president Harley Feldberg regarding inventory in the electronics supply chain, how to bring about sustainable growth, and the Asian and Japanese distribution markets.
Key quotes from Feldberg include the following:
* The $64,000 question is: What is the trend on inventory? Honestly, I don't think anyone knows. If you sit and read every inventory related data point that could come across your desk from fab investments, lead times, etc., there is a lot of conflicting data. On one hand you see lead times coming down, on the other hand we can tell you there are a number of lead times that are still extended. This means that we need to think forward and adjust our pipeline.
* I think the market is overreacting to economic data now. I think we are showing how short term and reactionary we are as an industry and as a supply chain. Almost every one of our suppliers and our largest competitors, as well as ourselves, are announcing year-on-year growth rates for the June quarter in the 40 to 50% [range]. It's unrealistic to think those types of growth rates will continue. My theory is that we are going to have a semi-soft landing opposed to a W [shaped recovery].
* It's impossible for me to visualize a future that doesn't include deeper and wider technology proliferation. I just don't see our future being less upbeat for technology but we have to manage our piece of the supply chain with some wisdom and not be so reactionary.
FULL ARTICLE: Avnet's Harley Feldberg: Evolutionary growth, not revolutionary
