World wide shortage of Electronic Components!

DavidM

Oh Boy!

I have been busy writing code and testing prototypes etc, (using the prop chips of course) for the last six months or so, I finally put together a bill of materials for about 90 different components to start building my project, ( about 25 units worth about $400 dollars each all up)

I have been trying to source components from all the major players and the consensus is that lead times for even common components have blown out to as much as 99 weeks in some cases!!!

for example..
I have been trying to source for a new design some PROFETS?smart Mosfets (BTS452R) etc and none are available or even other equivalents!

So now I am looking instead at various Mosfet gate drivers ( octal preferred) and whilst I can find suitable components , again no stock is available (or lead times are ridiculous),

I really don't know how engineers are going to "COPE" with this situation!

has anyone else experienced this world wide shortage?

I am just glad that PARALLAX have plenty of stock!

regards

Dave M

HollyMinkowski

Try ebay, you can find lots of parts there from Asian
sellers at really good prices.



http://cgi.ebay.com/BTS6144B-PROFET-Surface-Mount-INFINEON-SMT-5-LOT-/120606264392?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0#ht_1723wt_912

DavidM

Hi Holly,

I never buy anything from ebay, especially electronics for OEM's, I have been caught out with counterfits parts, ( not from ebay) but from other "cheap sources"

I only buy from authorised distributers and known brands..

You can find these by searching for any part number using ...

http://www.oemstrade.com
http://octopart.com
http://findchips.com

regards

Dave M

HollyMinkowski

You are probably wise to do that.
I buy stuff just for my own projects but
if I was making things to sell I would want
good quality standard parts.

Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)

The parts shortage is just a consequence of simple economics. In the depths of the recession, demand for parts fell. As a consequence, inventories rose, and production was curtailed. Now that we're climbing out of the recession, inventories are falling and parts production is having to play catch-up. 'Same thing happened in the mid '80s. It's a nightmare for designers and equipment producers, as well as for fabless semiconductor companies, who have to compete for time at the fab plants. But its a bonanza for the gray marketeers, who always seem to slither out of the sewer in times like these.

-Phil

Bobb Fwed

I know the feeling. I have had to redesign large portion of my PCBs because of parts that are no longer in stock. I've gotten in the habit of trying to find a) multiple suppliers with each component I need and b) components that may be substituted for other similar components, even though they may be slightly less fit for my purpose or cost is increased. This is not always possible though, and it is quite frustrating.

Between different versions of my projects there have been significant hardware changes, and sometimes I have to hold my breath the first time I boot it up to make sure it works to the specifications I need. I've been lucky so far (or had sufficient over-engineering is more likely) and each revision with new parts have come from assembly house working to specifications.

LoopyByteloose

Just because something is listed in a catalog doesn't mean that they intend to ever carry inventory. It just means that it can be made and ordered.

I generally buy 'off the shelf' in Taiwan and have to settle for older over-runs of stock. The newest and neatest chips never get into the retail channel for small quantity purchases (though they may be in use across town in the manufacturing sector).

Is this really a shortage, or just over-blown expectations about purchasing in smaller quantities?

There was a time when electronics suppliers did set aside component for repair, but these days it just isn't going to happen.

BTW, try Futerlec.com as they seem to carry a lot that others don't. They appear to cater to small runs done in Thailand and other parts of Asia.

WBA Consulting

Phil hit the nail on the head and we have some time before it's not a daily issue. I deal with this every day at work and have to authorize part substitutes quite often due to part lead times or availability. Some designers are purchasing parts during the design stage to ensure that the parts will be available when it comes time to do a prototype build (and in some cases production quantities are purchased while the board is still in design)

DavidM

Loopy Byteloose wrote: »

BTW, try Futerlec.com as they seem to carry a lot that others don't. They appear to cater to small runs done in Thailand and other parts of Asia.

Hi Loopy,

I would suggest not to by anything ( but connectors) from "Futerlec", They are the ones in particular who have supplied me COUNTERFEIT PARTS.

I am in Oz, So my "Preferred" suppliers for COMPONENTS are

FARNELL -Very Expensive , Good range, but get them to quote , give them a target price. they usually come good. Never except the list price! , its Smile ( I have told them that !)

RS-COMPONETS - Similar to Farnell, List prices suck, But will do competitive quoting .
ELECTUS - Cheap for through hole/common parts, limited range, unknown brands
ALTRONICS - Same as Electus
JAYCAR - Same as Electus but more expensive

AMPEC - Not bad for Connectors, harnesses.
CLARKE & SEVERN - Switchcraft and other Connectors - Great service,
TENROD - Best for LED's!

BUT I mainly order From the US, these are the best suppliers to OZ..

DIGIKEY - best prices good range, good website.
MOUSER - Good range , but just a little more expensive than DIGIKEY but still good, and good stocking levels ( also, they have the best Website for ordering etc

NEWARK - Good Prices, same as Farnell in Oz, but a lot cheaper, I use the prices here to get FARNELL in OZ to quote to.


And then there are the MAJOR DISTRIBUTORS( For "volume" orders ) such as ARROW, AVNET, BREAMAC, Good prices but Long lead times are typical. ( I only buy from these suppliers if items are "ex stock" 1- 2 wks etc )

But on top of all this, If you have a PCB Loader make your boards , They will have better buying power, especially those hidden asian suppliers, and "know" who is reputable.

If you live in the US, You are damn lucky, you have many more suppliers to choose from.
Regards
Dave M

Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)

Dave,

In my experience, the PCB assembly house's buying power almost never trickles down to its customers. Every time I've had turn-key vs. consignment jobs quoted, consignment has won by a wide margin price-wise. It's important, though, if you have a job done on a consignment basis, that you pick an assembly house whose inventory accounting is above reproach. I've worked with houses on both ends of that spectrum. The bad ones are really bad and may even "lose" your left-over components and disavow any responsibility for them.

-Phil

DavidM

HI Phil,

You are correct,

I know how the board loaders operate, I use to work for one 10 years ago, !!

Most of the problem lies with MOQ's from the large distributers ( Arrow, Avnet etc )

Lets say you want to build 200 PCB's and you have a single resistor value per board, Thats only 200 pcs yet the MOQ would be 5000 for a singe reel!

Its was quite rare ( in fact NEVER) that we would build 5000 PCB's of one kind. When I worked for them, ( I was the Inventory Manager ) We started consolidating common components RESISTORS/CAPS etc, We would have had one part number for each component value for EACH CUSTOMER ! Because each customer had their own SPECIFICATION QUALIFICATIONS list. We would have jobs on hold because of an average lead time of 12 weeks, but in reality we had the part in stock under someone else's part number, Its was very inefficient, So I started the process of consolidating parts, It took forever!

We would had added about 20% margin on the cost of materials, which is not much, the money was made with labour and assembly, as it should be.

In my current project I have a fully cost "BOM" with my target prices, Depending on MOQ's, I will probably supply ALL PARTS except for RESISTORS and CAPS as My board loader has most of those.

I am also getting them to supply a quote of Materials & Assembly separated!

regards

Dave M

checkstox

I have been in the electronic distribution industry since 1997. My main business comes from factories who have factory allocation and/or obsoletion issues which can result in costly redesigns.
I also biu surplus/excess stock from OEM/CEMS

I carry my own inventory, and have access to the global network of independant stockists inventories which I can also quote from.

Please check my website www.checkstox.com and you can click on search for part at top of page.

from there you have free access to the worldwide data base of both franchised stocks and independant disti stock. Click on RFQ and I will confirm the stock and send you a quote.

You can also email me directly tim (at) checkstox (dot) com

I hope to be able to successfully assist you with your shortage demands.

LoopyByteloose

Anybody mentioning a 99 week delay in availability likely just doesn't want your business - either the order is too small or the profit margin is too low or their relationship with the manufacturer is poor.

Cluso99

As Phil said, this is a cyclic thing which happens in fact every few years. When the shortages start the grubs buy up the inventories and sit on them to force an even greater demand. Then we have the counterfeiters who come in too, and the really old stock which may be an old revision that no longer works, etc,etc.

The 99 week lead times are usually because the manufacturer does not know when he will have parts and will usually keep his best customers supplied with what he can get. 99 is usually a software restriction to say we don't know. In reality though, 6 months can be quite realistic. I expect with less fab plants this could get worse this time around. During the modem chip shortages of ~1994 the Oz manufacturers were getting much less than 50% of their forecast orders and no alternatives. The overseas companies fared much better and made a killing in out market.

As for assemblers, yes, they markup costs to a point where it can often be cheaper to supply yourself. Of course, do not provide the jellybean stuff such as resistors and caps. The loss of parts here is actually quite considerable because the robots drop lots of these tiny parts.