SMTA international events focus on contract manufacturing

SMTA

SMTA international events focus on contract manufacturingKeywords: SMTA, Manufacturing

For industry professionals involved in providing contract manufacturing services, several events during SMTA International (September 30 - October 4 at Donald Stephens Convention Center in Chicago, IL) will be dedicated to the contract manufacturing partnership.

Tutorials include, on Sunday, September 30, an all-day interactive course on"Correctly Implementing the Make-Buy Decision" that will be taught by Ralph Kenton, Ralph Kenton & Associates. This course will focus on market trends, outsourcing strategies, cost analysis, business and marketing plans,risk management, and OEM/CM responsibilities and rewards. On Monday, October 1,a half-day course by Dr Sammy Shina, University of Massachusetts, on "Outsourcing Electronics Design and Assembly Using E-Supply". This session will lead attendees in a step-by-step review of the contracting decision and selection process and its possible consequences on the company's performance in human,financial, technical, legal and operational resources. One other full-day tutorial on Thursday, October 4, "Keys to Success in the Contract Manufacturing Partnership", will feature again Ralph Kenton on the critical elements of a mutually profitable program for both the OEM and EMSP in the development of contemporary processes and tools.

Also on Monday, key industry providers and OEMs will share their ideas during the popular Contract Manufacturing Symposium. Topics will include Successful Outsourcing Management, EMS' Role in R&D, and Assembly Technologies. During the latter portion of the day, a panel discussion will focus on EMS Supply Chain Management. This panel discussion will bring together OEMs, EMS providers and consultants to address the paradigm shift toward the ever-increasing verticalization of the EMS industry and corresponding abdication by the OEMs.

Two other special events that will focus on Contract Manufacturing will be the keynote luncheon on Tuesday and a factory tour on Wednesday. The keynote luncheon will feature an address by Dr Ko Nishimura, President of Solectron Corporation. Dr Nishimura's keynote address is entitled "The true value in EMS is in the service", and he will share with the audience his belief that there is a need for an EMS company to provide true supply chain facilitation by offering a full range of services to all types of customers. The factory tour on Wednesday will provide a rare opportunity to visit MSL's optoelectronics lab in the morning and to participate in an afternoon panel discussion on "EMS: How to Manage and Find Business in a Downturn".

For full details on the events listed above or on SMTA International in general, visit the online conference brochure at smta.org/smtai or contact SMTA executive administrator JoAnn Stromberg. Tel: 952 920 7682; E-mail: joann@smta.org