Sourcing ELECTRONICS reinventing distribution


Rethinking the distributors’ core competences can add value to OEMcustomers, explains technical director of Future Electronics (EMEA), ColinWeaving


In its role as a stocker and shipper of parts, the traditional distributor has a fairly passive response to changingmarket conditions. The result is that itmisses a substantial opportunity to add value for its OEMcustomers: it is time to rethink the distributor’s core competences.


True, these key functions still


encompass traditional logistics – a role for which Future Electronics is well equipped with the 2010 opening of its €40mEMEA distribution centre in Leipzig, Germany. They also however, includemanaging 'alpha customer' relationships with big semiconductormanufacturers and maintaining visibility of the common patterns in product architecture across thousands of different customers.


Every year, Future sees


convergence towards a common board design for any given category of end product. This is the inevitable effect of semiconductor integration and complexity. Future's privileged access to its customers’ designs makes it possible to observe this trend in real time.


In response, Future


Electronics is expanding the role of traditional technical broadline distributor fromparts shipper to facilitator of its customers’ product strategies. For instance, thanks to close relationships with semiconductormanufacturers, Future is able to bring prototype development boards tomarket in sync with semiconductor product launches. Customers who use these Future-Blox boards can save months of development time designing a hardware platform around a new IC.


This trend ismost advanced in


the Future Lighting Solutions division, which provides LED lightingmodules under the brand name SimpleLED. A lighting OEM with plastics andmetal-forming expertise can be shipping a new luminaire design within days of the launch of a Philips Lumileds LED, if it uses a SimpleLEDmodule.


In effect, there is no doubt that distributors can help their OEM


customers get new products into customers’ hands faster, but only by thinking afresh about the job they do.


www.futureelectronics.com HALL A4 STAND 259 Investing in your future.


Highly automated warehouse equipment: 12 cranes each serving racks 18m high x 100m long ensure Future Electronics’ shipments to European customers are fast and accurate.


Delivering the right electronic components to the right location, at the right time, with zero errors and zero defects.


This is the goal that has driven Future Electronics’ largest ever investment in the future of European manufacturing: the new €40m EMEA Distribution Centre (EMEA DC) in Leipzig, Germany. The facility has been fully operational since June 2010.


Benefiting from the world’s most advanced warehouse automation equipment, rigorous quality control procedures, and close proximity to sophisticated air, road and rail hubs, the


EMEA DC leads the world in its speed, accuracy and responsiveness of service. Cut-off ordering deadlines for next- day delivery in Europe are later than ever.


You can sample the EMEA DC’s service for yourself today – simply contact your nearest branch of Future Electronics or find us at www.futureelectronics.com.


Future Electronics’ EMEA Distribution Centre: Key Facts • 15,000m2


Future Electronics’ EMEA Distribution Centre – Leipzig


• Capacity to stock >100,000 separate items (part numbers) • Handles >6,000 customer shipments/day • Temperature- and humidity-controlled environment • Fail-safe operation – redundant power, road and data systems available • Full ISO9001/14001, AS1920, ANSI ESD 20.20 and C-TPAT certifications


building WIN A PORSCHE DRIVING EXPERIENCE AND VIP VISIT TO THE EMEA DC


Learn more about the new EMEA DC and Future Electronics’ supply chain services by visiting our stand at Electronica 2010 in Munich, Hall A4 stand 259. Apply for a free Electronica pass and enter a draw for one of three VIP visits to the EMEA DC and to the Porsche Driving Experience, both in Leipzig, Germany. To apply, e-mail your contact details to: info-eur-future@futureelectronics.com.


September 2010 | 27


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