“Let CTrends Help You Mitigate the Effects of US Tariffs”

Using its proprietary software, CTrends can analyze your BOMs to determine if items are subject to the tariffs and recommend strategies to avoid those tariffs.

CTrends is more than a distributor – we are a supply chain solutions company.

This new service is another example of how we partner with you to provide solutions to the wide variety of challenges you face so you can focus on your core competencies, your growth, and your customers.

CTrends Tariff Mitigation Press Release
CTrends Tariff Mitigation Solutions Brochure.

“A storm in the electronics industry is spreading into automotive, aerospace, healthcare industries and more – just about any supply chain that calls for electronic components” says Maryliz Burns, contributor for SupplyChainBrain.com.  The industry is already experiencing long lead times that have no sight of getting any better anytime soon.  When you add the tariffs to the shortage equation, you are looking at even higher prices, and an increased risk of counterfeit components.

In these tough times you need a company that you can trust.  CTrends is your DFARS Compliant Trusted Global Supplier of Electronic Components.  We support EOL, Obsolete, Hard-to-Find and Constrained parts.  As a QSLD and QTSL supplier, our Risk Mitigation Laboratory is vetted by the Defense Logistics Agency with Industry Leading Certifications, Memberships, and Alliances.  Call us today for any of our valued services:
o Component Data & Optimization with BOM Scrubbing
o Distribution & Procurement
o Risk Mitigation Laboratory
o Excess Inventory Management
• Call 1-877-472-9050 today

Thank you to everyone who visited CTrends at DMSMS 2018 in Nashville this year.  We are proud to be your DFARS Compliant Trusted Supplier of Electronic Components.  We support EOL, Obsolete, Hard-to-Find and Constrained parts.  As a QSLD and QTSL supplier, our Risk Mitigation Laboratory is vetted by the Defense Logistics Agency with Industry Leading Certifications, Memberships, and Alliances.  Call us today for any of our valued services:
o Component Data & Optimization with BOM Scrubbing
o Distribution & Procurement
o Risk Mitigation Laboratory
o Excess Inventory Management
• Call 1-877-472-9050 today

A top consumer products OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) contacted CTrends for assistance in procurement of hard to find electronic components. The customer needed just-in-time deliveries due to an ongoing high after production fallout rate of 8%. In the process of discussing the situation with the customer and their Quality Assurance Manager, it was determined that a BOM Scrub analysis should be performed on the current build.

CTrends’ proprietary BOM Scrub analysis was used to first determine which components had the highest risk factors. The BOM Scrub performed provided primary and secondary crosses with side-by-side parametric data along with costing information. This information was used to determine which components were susceptible to failure. Further discussions regarding the open market supply chain for their high risk parts revealed a potential risk of substandard or suspect counterfeit components in their current inventory.  Once this was identified CTrends was able to bring the customers parts into its in-house test lab for analysis that included die verification.

The state-of-the-art die verification test determined there were 29 occurrences of suspect counterfeit parts in the customers supply chain for that product. These parts were quarantined and removed from the customer’s inventory.

After the initial discovery of the suspect counterfeit components the customer’s fallout rate dropped to 1%, saving the company in excess of $500,000 in manufacturing and repair costs. CTrends was also able to determine other high risk components through the initial BOM Scrub and provide suitable drop in replacements to the component engineers; saving the company time and expense of additional manufacturing down time.

CTrends became an invaluable partner with the customer for BOM scrubbing, procurement and risk mitigation test services.  Call CTrends today to discover the many benefits your company will experience when it partners with CTrends, the industry leader in electronic component procurement, risk mitigation and supply chain management.

A top manufacturer of automotive infotainment systems contacted CTrends in regards to its vast quantity of unusable excess components. The customer desired a solution that would provide a financial return rather than simply scrapping the materials with no return on the product.

CTrends worked with the Inventory Control Team to analyze more than 200 line items. A reverse market analysis was completed on the components. The reverse market analysis report gave the customer valuable insight as to the marketability of these components. This included global saturation level, market pricing, and component life cycle information. CTrends assisted the customer in reviewing the report and provided several options for the excess inventory.

The customer decided to partner with CTrends for a lot buy. CTrends purchased the inventory from them allowing for an immediate return on the product. This process also assisted the Inventory Control Team to free up valuable warehouse space.

The customer continues to partner with CTrends to administer all its excess. The customer not only uses CTrends for lot buy transactions but also for virtual inventory posting and e-waste disposal. The customer continues to gain a return on inventory once thought to have no value in the market.

When it comes to excess inventory management, CTrends leads the field in quality and customer satisfaction. Our in-demand process for valuing excess materials provides you a wide range of options. Our reverse market analysis helps you understand the true value of your excess inventory. Call CTrends today to see which options are right for your excess inventory.

An industry leading top server manufacturer contacted CTrends for assistance with a constrained component for one of their new server projects. Through CTrends’ proprietary software, it was immediately apparent that the component was in the obsolescence life cycle phase. To avoid future constraints and threat of production down time, CTrends proactively offered a full BOM (Bill of Materials) Scrub on the entire build.

The BOM Scrub report concluded that 4% of all components for the new server had already reached the end of their life cycle or presented other high risk factors to the manufacturer’s supply chain. CTrends was able to provide information for drop in replacements and suitable crosses. New parts were immediately designed in to provide continuity of supply. CTrends partnered with the engineering team to perform a BOM scrub analysis on all current projects.

The manufacturer has partnered with CTrends to provide BOM Scrubbing services each quarter on existing projects since to ensure continuation of the continuity of supply.  Each new project is also put through the BOM Scrub process during the introduction phase while in engineering design. The CTrends BOM Scrub service has become a vital step in the manufacturer’s process to provide data on the life cycle stage and risk analysis of each component. The engineering team uses this data to make more informed decisions on approved components.

CTrends takes BOM Scrubbing to the next level providing your engineering team everything they need to make informed decisions in regards to component choices. Contact CTrends today to learn more about the proprietary BOM Scrubbing service.

EPSNews Reports that Component Shortages will ease as wafer capacity grows.  Until the supply of silicon wafer production meets demand, there will be increasing shortages and lead times across many IC segments including memory and semiconductors.  With no relief projected until the end of 2018 and early 2019, pricing will not stabilize until then.  Samsung, SK Hynix, Micron, Intel, Toshiba/WD all have reported plans to increase production capacity over the next two years, but that’s down the road.

Who are you going to turn to when you are faced with constrained product, extended lead times and line-down situations?  Partner with CTrends, your Trusted Supplier of Electronic Components and Supply Chain Solutions Specialist.  With industry leading certifications, Top 50 distributor status, and in-house risk mitigation lab, our sales experts can assist you with all of your requirements.  Click www.ctrends.com or call us today at 1-877-472-9050.

A well known consumer electronics company is a continued partner with CTrends for component data through BOM (Bill of Materials) Scrubbing and just-in-time deliveries through procurement. During one of the routine BOM Scrub analysis, an end-of-life notification was discovered on a key component. CTrends’ procurement team worked with the customer’s engineering team to gather drawings and application specifications for this component.

The CTrends’ procurement team immediately went to work to gather data for the production schedule and usage. At the same time, procurement contacted the original component manufacturer to discuss options for a high volume “last time buy” for the customer. CTrends successfully negotiated and delivered a last time buy for the end of life component saving the customer over 15% in a cost reduction. This last time buy gave the customer time to review their product and work with us to make better more informed decisions for their future production.

The initial BOM scrub analysis provided primary and secondary cross information for the component. An engineer in the risk mitigation department was able to work with the customer engineer team to create a short list of components that should perform properly. Side-by-side parametric data was provided for review. New components were identified, purchased and tested for performance. The approved component was immediately introduced into the production schedule with a supply chain cost reduction.

CTrends was happy to put its core competencies to work for its customer. To start CTrends used BOM Scrubbing for component data and optimization. During the proactive BOM scrub a risk was identified to the supply chain bringing forward CTrends’ risk mitigation competency. In the end the procurement department was the hero in successfully negotiating a last time buy and securing a new component for future production both saving the customer time and money.  All of these competencies were developed and implemented to maintain an unbroken supply chain.

Customer: The Company is a top manufacturer of commercial electronics.

Problem: The Company’s productivity and profits were trending downward. The company enlisted CTrends. Together, the company and CTrends discovered a bottleneck in the production process. The company utilized precious production time to program parts regardless of the batch size needed to complete an order. This process reduced the time that the company could spend on its core competency of manufacturing and caused delays in final product shipments.

Process for solution: Working with the company, CTrends reviewed all aspects of the manufacturing process. CTrends pinpointed management’s frustration with the parts programming process and the costs associated with delays in production and programming the chips

Benefit: CTrends located a local partner capable of providing one-day turnaround for programming small batches of electronic components. CTrends subcontracts the programming and tests the components prior to delivery to the manufacturing facility. With this simple shift, the production staff was able to concentrate on manufacturing rather than programming, saving a significant number of man hours.

Partnership: CTrends is an integral partner for the company during new product introduction and product prototyping. CTrends’ can partner with your company’s engineers, to develop innovating solutions through your manufacturing bottlenecks. CTrends has robust capabilities to deliver preprogrammed chips Just-In-Time (JIT), saving you time and streamlining your manufacturing process.

Contact CTrends today to explore the benefits of a part programming partnership. Large runs or small, CTrends does it all.

EMSNOW.com’s article on, “How to Survive the Ongoing Component Shortage” shares a few reasons why we are in the largest component shortage in supply chain since 2010.  Mergers and Acquisitions are causing a strain on global supply chains.  The Internet of Things cause for a growing demand of electronic components.  And the Automotive Industry’s technology is expanding at lightning speed.

Who are you going to turn to when your regular suppliers can’t fill your requirements?  What are you going to do when lead times increase and you are in danger of a line-down situation?  Partner with CTrends, your Trusted Supplier of Electronic Components and Supply Chain Solutions Specialists with a network of global supply.  With industry leading certifications, Top 50 distributor status, and in-house risk mitigation lab, our sales experts can assist you with all of your requirements.  Click here to learn more about CTrends and call us today at 1-877-472-9050.  We are standing by!