Sourcing ELECTRONICS
Building strong distriBution partnerships
Digi-Key’s president,Mark Larson, argues that the bond between OEMs and their distributors is only as strong as the distributor’s ability to deliver the right product at the right time
Digi-Key’s president,Mark Larson, explains the value of strong relationships with original equipmentmanufacturers
The strength of the relationship between an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and distributor is a function of the level of support the distributor can provide the OEM. The
most importantmeasure of a distributor’s strength is its ability to consistently provide product on time.
As fundamental as this ability is purchasers have learned not all
distributors are equal. The fact that Digi-Key offers the industry’s broadest range of board level electronic components for immediate, off-the shelf delivery is themost significant differentiator between it and its competitors.Without a distributor’s ability to deliver on time, the OEM/distributor relationship cannot be successful.
Today, a distributormust also offer services and resources that
support, facilitate and streamline the OEM’s requirements regarding newproduct introduction and the production of existing products. Digi-Key Corporation provides: 24/7 customer service; live technical support (phone and chat); Product TrainingModules; BOMtools; supply chain tools andmore.
Digi-Key’s Bill-of-Materials (BOM)Manager provides real-time
pricing and availability, secure storage, plus search and reference features. The systemlets purchasers create separate BOMs for specific projects and place orders for varying quantities of assemblies. Purchasers can create and save a BOMwith correct part ratios andmultiply by the number of assemblies during the ordering process. Digi-Key’s BOMlets purchasers create a ‘single kit’ to package kits together or a ‘multi kit’ to package each kit separately. Purchasers can also create parts lists by adding or importing a list of parts and then creating a quote or order.
The company’s goal is to provide support fromprototype to
production: frominitial design concept to newproduct introduction (NPI) runs through production. Digi-Key is introducing thousands of newproducts, giving OEMs the opportunity to choose froma rich selection of innovative products frommore than four-hundred world classmanufacturers.
Digi-Key operates a rigorous vetting process to ensure the manufacturers it represents and the products it carries clearlymeet
32 | November 2010
the industry’s needs. Digi-Key’s growth is being driven by customers that have experienced the ‘Digi-Key Difference’ and recommend Digi-Key to other OEMs. The difference: consistent service, the world’s broadest product offering, excellent technical support, and fair and quick resolution of problems.
Study results fromtheMay 2010 Distribution Customer
Evaluation Study, conducted by EE|Times Group, rank Digi-Key as the No1 Supply Chain distributor. According to the same survey, Digi-Key was also ranked No1 for On-time Delivery, No1 for Ease of Doing Business, No1 for Competitive Pricing, No1 for Availability of Product, No1 for ExcellentWebsite, No1 for Ample Product Information, and No1 for Largest Breadth of Product Line. Additionally, readers of Elektronikmagazine in Germany recently ranked Digi-Key as the No1 Distributor of the Year for active components and optoelectronics/displays for 2010.
Digi-Key strives to provide OEMs with solutions for every step in
the time-to-market process.With Digi-Key’s supply chain ecosystem, both large and small companies can create small quantity prototype orders without being subjected tominimum order quantities that require ordering a large number of parts.
As OEMs view their
supply chain requirements, they understand the challenges of achieving time-to- market deadlines for their new products andmeeting the component needs for production schedules of exiting products. They quickly develop an appreciation for the secure supply chain solutions offered by Digi-Key.
www.digikey.com/europe www.electronics-sourcing.eu
Digi-Key was awarded the number one position for the Largest Breadth of Product Line
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