The current chip shortage

 The current chip shortage is causing major headaches for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) across all industries. The shortage of components is causing delays in production and shipping, and ultimately impacting the bottom line for businesses. In order to mitigate the effects of the shortage, OEMs have several options available to them.


One possible solution is to redesign the product and remove the missing component. According to a survey by Avnet, this is a direction that many OEMs are now considering. However, this approach can be time-consuming and costly, as the entire system must be exhaustively tested and verified. Additionally, if the product is subject to certification, the certification process may need to be repeated.


Another option is to bring the next release of the product forward, turning the problem of a missing component into an opportunity to move to the next version of the product early. However, this strategy may not be practical as product lifecycles are geared towards the time-in-market, which is largely influenced by external factors.


An alternative approach is to continue supporting the current version of the product for longer. This strategy may be more effective for businesses that have a strong market position for that product and can afford to retain customers through the shortage. However, it can also result in lost market share and decreased profits.


Ultimately, the right solution will depend on a variety of factors and will require careful consideration. OEMs must weigh the pros and cons of each option and make a decision that is best for their business. With longer lead times and price increases predicted by engineers in the coming months, the chip shortage is likely to continue causing problems for OEMs.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Are microLEDs the next big (small) thing?

Light-emitting diode (LED) technology has been around for decades, but the introduction of micro LEDs has changed the way we think about it. As the name suggests, micro LEDs are tiny versions of the regular LEDs engineers use in embedded systems. The main application areas for micro LEDs are displays of various shapes and sizes, from very small to very big. MicroLEDs are defined as LEDs smaller than 100 micrometers (um) in size. This site is significantly smaller than traditional LEDs, and it opens up new possibilities for applications. The main advantage of micro LEDs is their increased brightness and higher power efficiency compared to OLED or LCD-based displays. This makes them ideal for microdisplays, which are defined as very small displays used for near-eye applications (i.e. not direct view). These displays are usually under 1-inch in size, with high performance (in terms of resolution, brightness, and refresh rates). The manufacturing process of micro LEDs is challenging due to...
Read more

Safety and security in autonomous driving

The integration of autonomous technology in vehicles has brought about a new set of concerns, particularly when it comes to safety and security. As the industry moves towards higher levels of automation, it becomes increasingly important to ensure that cybersecurity measures are in place to protect both the vehicles and their passengers. One key standard that is being used in the automotive industry is ISO/SAE 21434, which provides a structured process for incorporating cybersecurity considerations into automotive products. This standard requires manufacturers and suppliers to demonstrate due diligence in implementing cybersecurity engineering and ensures that cybersecurity management is applied throughout the supply chain. The development of automated driving features also brings new challenges to safety. Historically, automotive electrical and electronic systems have been regulated according to the functional safety standard ISO 26262, which assures a high level of resilience in th...
Read more

Six cool and update autonomous technologies

 EVAA prevents plane crashes with its moral compass: NASA’s Resilient Autonomy team and the Federal Aviation Administration have developed the Expandable Variable Autonomy Architecture (EVAA) to avoid aviation accidents by giving aircraft autonomous capabilities. It can assist human pilots or act on its own and has already saved 11 lives according to Mark Skoog, principal investigator for autonomy research at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center. Autonomous tractors increase farm productivity: Autonomous farming can increase the efficiency of large industrial farms, by using self-operating tractors and other machinery, such as John Deere's Autonomous Tractor Concept, which uses GPS and sensor technology to navigate and perform tasks on the farm. Self-driving tractor-trailers fight driver fatigue: Self-driving tractor-trailers can help reduce the risk of accidents caused by driver fatigue, by using sensors and cameras to navigate the roads, and advanced algorithms to make dec...
Read more