There isn’t going to be a single solution.  Products and manufacturing facilities are complex, with unique demands of demand, availability and supply, so the best, or rather ‘least-worst’ option, will be specific to each case. It is important to consider the options and be diligent in the business analysis, but don’t delay in making decisions.

One of the first reactions is to look to the grey market to supply the components.  Whilst there are many credible suppliers out there, the risk of fraudulent or poor-quality components is real and often very difficult to identify.  If this option is taken, manufacturers should be aware of the risks and be aware that some quality problems may arise with the product.

Supplier assessment and component documentation are the primary tools to mitigate this, but if the need is sufficient consider third-party verification of the components.  In some sectors such as medical and safety, going to the grey market may not be possible.

Alternative components should not be selected from online distributor sites just because the title and pinout look the same.  The operation of electronic circuits is often affected by secondary component parameters and so alternatives should always be reviewed and approved by someone who understands the product and circuit operation.

With a good understanding of the circuit operation, alternative components can often be identified.  In some cases, these can be a simple drop-in replacement, but sometimes more extensive investigation and changes are needed.

Even with the best processes in place, it is still important to verify the first samples of the updated design to ensure it operates correctly.  Whilst by this stage there will naturally be great time pressure to get production running, modifying many units is painful in cost and time.  With careful management, the test and verification can be performed within hours of sample manufacture.

The business case and decision-making around component alternatives require open communication between the factory, engineers and business managers.  Close collaboration, speed and trust can significantly reduce the cost and time to keep production going.

Looking forward, component supply is likely to remain a factor for years to come, although we do expect significant improvement in 2023.  So, what can we do to reduce the likelihood of problems?

It is important to provide good forecasts to the factory and suppliers.  This really gives your supply chain the best chance of reliable supply.

When designing new products, take the uncertainty of component supply into consideration early in the development.  In the project risk assessment, consider how alternatives would be addressed and modify the design to increase the options.  This can change the electronics, software or mechanics of the product.  You can’t avoid the risk but you can mitigate it.

At Partner Electronics we are assisting our clients with this challenging journey and we’re continuously evolving our design processes to improve the resilience of our designs to component supply issues.

The post Navigating the Failing Components Supply Chain first appeared on Partner Electronics.

We are pleased to announce the promotion of Sam Faull and Ian Johnston, from Graduate Engineers to our new Lead Engineers.

They have both worked for our company for a number of years, becoming invaluable and innovative members of our team. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, their hard work and determination has never been more prevalent. They do everything they can to keep the business running as usual and it has been a success.

Sam and Ian have been treasured members since they joined us as Graduates. They have been at the centre of innovation and the catalysts for forward-thinking and collaboration. They are appreciated by all of their colleagues; we often find ourselves turning to them for their advice and expertise. In their new roles, they will continue to successfully lead projects and will give further support to their team members. By overseeing that the others learn and thrive just as they have.

Congratulations and welcome to your new roles! We look forward to watching you grow even further.

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The post Graduate Development – Ian and Sam first appeared on Partner Electronics.

Monday

Every Monday morning at Partner starts with a full team meeting. Which we’re now doing via Microsoft Teams, rather than in person. The purpose of the meeting is to ensure accountability to one another and our clients; discussing the wins of yesterday and the planning of what’s to come. This week it was Andrew Templey’s turn to bring in fruit for all the staff. For what we like to call “Munchy Mondays”. Honestly, it’s just an excuse for all of us to have a delicious treat and create a little excitement on a Monday morning.

After the meeting concluded, the introductions to the team and office life at Partner began. It’s safe to say that my first impressions of the team are that everyone is incredibly welcoming and extremely hard-working. Most of the day consisted of back to back presentations and tours from all members of the senior team. These covered the topics of health and safety, company rules and regulations, admin duties and I won’t bore you with the stories of filling out paperwork. The most important part of the day was the introduction of the company’s core values. All of our actions should be linked to one of the following:

• Proactive and determined
• Integrity, honesty and respect
• Communication, communication, communication
• Technical and process excellence
• Learn, teach and grow
• A great place to work for everyone

Tuesday

Tuesday’s focus was on creating a business development strategy. First thing in the morning I and the senior team did a SWOT analysis of the company; to assess our strategic position and increase opportunities and chances for growth. Conducting a SWOT analysis allows us to understand the business better and helped answer the following 4 questions. Can we use our current strengths to open up further opportunities? Can we turn some of our weaknesses into strengths? How do we deter threats? and would even more opportunities become available by eliminating some of our weaknesses? By answering these questions, we could come up with solutions for change.

The rest of the day I spent researching our industry and carrying out a synopsis of our current clients. The purpose of this task was to find out who our perfect customer is and what makes them a good fit. By asking questions of what is the scope of their organisation? what industry do they work in? and what is the stage of their business? This makes it easier to know which companies to target in the future. It also highlighted some unexplored market opportunities and I was then able to add this to our SWOT analysis. Once the bulk of the business strategy was created, with its main focus on sales, I decided to save the marketing strategy for Thursday.

Wednesday

Wednesday mornings at Partner are filled with back to back calls with current clients through various channels. From telephone calls to video calls via Skype, Zoom, or Google Meet. Our customers at Partner are paying for a partnership, both parties work as a collective to help design a new product or enhance an existing one. Regular calls ensure that we keep the client up to date on our progress and if there is anything we need from them and vice versa. Both ourselves and the clients are held accountable to one another, to guarantee that we are developing a product to the highest standard and using our time efficiently.

The purpose of these calls is to make the design process an enjoyable experience. By making it easier for our customers by being completely transparent and guiding them through every step of the way. From conception and into the market place. One of the great selling points about Partner is that you are hiring an Electronics department, you have regular ongoing support, making it easier to make changes throughout. However, not only on Wednesdays do we update our clients. They receive daily support. Our engineers are always available by telephone call if they have any queries and we will always pick up the phone to ensure a project gets done.

The phone calls finished around 1pm and after lunch, I decided to use the rest of the day to get to know more about our current clients. Who our key contact is, what their position is, what projects we are working on, and where we are in the design process. Using this information I was then able to add some useful points to my business development strategy. From getting to know our current clients better, I can profile our perfect customer and come up strategies on how to target them.

Thursday

As I mentioned previously, I decided to leave all the marketing strategy and planning to Thursday. The information produced from earlier in the week told us who we were going to target. Marketing is one of the powerful tools alongside sales to help target potential clients. The morning began with updating our social media platforms and finding a purpose for our posts. Why are we posting this? Who does it target and what does it portray? All social media posts must have meaning.

The rest of the day I spent writing and uploading my first post on the company website and learning how to utilise Search Engine Optimisation (SEO). I finished the day by researching about trade shows and conferences the company can attend when it is safe to do so. It was very interesting to find out about the number of associations and groups tailored to giving your company support. Whilst keeping you up to date with all things electronics.

Friday

The last day of the week consisted of mostly light-hearted chats with management and getting to know my other colleagues. I reflected on my first week by looking at what I had completed. If there was anything that I could improve on and what my tasks are for the upcoming weeks. I also used this time to highlight any unanswered questions that I had. A huge chunk of the conversation was just mostly for them to know if I was settling in ok. And if there was anything to they could do more to help.

During one of my conversations with my Office Manager Jan, I found out about a volunteering opportunity with the Community Fridge. The goal of the Community Fridge is to reduce food waste by giving unwanted food from different households and supermarkets, to those who will enjoy it. Otherwise, it will be sent to landfill. There is a photo of me with the Office Manager Jan volunteering at the beginning of the blog.

Once all these conversations were concluded, my first week came to an end. To sum up my time so far at Partner Electronics, I am going to refer back to the company’s core values that stood out to me most throughout the week. That Partner really is a great place to work for everyone.

The post My First Week at Partner Electronics first appeared on Partner Electronics.

Tell us about yourself

I have just graduated from Loughborough University in Electronic and Electrical Engineering and although COVID-19 made my final year studies way more difficult, I managed to obtain First-class Honours and I am incredibly proud of myself. At University I enjoyed the ultra-low-power aspects of my course and I can’t wait to put all the things I have learned over the last 3 years into solving real-world problems. Aside from my career I love attending automotive events and socialising with my friends and family.

Why did you choose to continue working at Partner Electronics after you completed your internship?

Here at Partner they have you working on projects right from the start. From gaining hands-on experience right from the get-go, I can honestly say I have learned more in two weeks at Partner than I have at other companies. You learn hard and fast and it’s thrilling. Not only this, I get the opportunity to work on projects with clients from a wide range of industries, so you aren’t just stuck in one area of expertise. You always get to try something new which really helps with my self-development.

What are your first impressions of the company?

Everyone here has a great work ethic and is very welcoming. They are always on the go but are happy to make time to help you if you need it. This makes working here very enjoyable.

What do you hope to learn during your time here?

I want to become an expert in as many areas as possible and I have particular interests in hardware, firmware, and embedded systems. With this knowledge I hope to become a triple threat *laughs*. I also want to be able to lead my own projects and help others.

Who influences you the most within the engineering industry?

I think the company director Richard has had a huge influence on me, seeing him create a successful small business and help clients to design products to a high standard, makes me aspire to be just like him.

To discover more about our graduate opportunities, visit our Careers page and our Gradcracker Hub

The post New Graduate Recruit Q&A – Andrew Norwood first appeared on Partner Electronics.

Even though COVID-19 hasn’t gone away, our clients are changing from managing the changes that the pandemic has brought about, to looking forward and taking the opportunities that lie ahead.

In the months and years ahead, the winners will be the companies developing the new and innovative products adapted for the new normal.

Partner Electronics is fully operational and helping to bring these products to market. Get in touch and let us help with your product development.

The post From Surviving to Thriving… first appeared on Partner Electronics.

This show is a great opportunity to meet new and existing clients face to face. Discuss how partnering with an experienced and dependable engineering team can deliver electronics and firmware designs time after time.

Whether you are looking to develop new products, add new features or support existing products, Richard and the team will be on Stand C80 ready to talk about how we can help you.

We look forward to meeting you there!

The post Discover Partner Electronics at the Southern Manufacturing & Electronics Exhibition first appeared on Partner Electronics.

EventCity Manchester on 2nd and 3rd October 2019

The post Come and meet us at the Northern Manufacturing & Electronics Exhibition 2019 first appeared on Partner Electronics.