Supply Base Design Checklist

It’s taken for granted that a product’s inception is solely a matter of design. Particularly in the world of electronic product design, architects and designers hold the reigns in the earliest stages, leaving the involvement of procurement and operations until later—often, too late.

When a product’s supply base isn’t a primary concern from its very inception, companies leave themselves open to vulnerabilities in sourcing—materials shortages, price fluctuations, and unreliable producers, among much else.

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Drawing on his many years of experience in semiconductor technology and product development, including as a chief procurement officer, Ken J. Bradley argues compellingly for procurement’s involvement in a product’s design from Day 1, and provides an organized guide for ensuring it across all stages of its lifecycle, including . . .

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    • How to make procurement a part of the design team
    • How supply base design helps ensure pricing power for sourcing components from the get-go
    • How bills of materials (BoMs) can be optimized by involving procurement early
    • How to vet suppliers with both design and sourcing in mind
    • How to design a product thinking ahead to its end of life (EOL)
    • How involving procurement in design can help better prepare your company for the coming AI shift
    • So much else!

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Full of thoughtful insights and practical checklists, Supply Base Design is a revolution in thinking when it comes to electronic product design, helping your company ensure your product is both technically and practically sound, reliant on a solid supply base across its lifecycle.