NEW IPC REPORT HIGHLIGHTS BUSINESS IMPLICATIONS OF ON-SHORING IN NORTH AMERICA

A new report in IPC’s series of on-shoring studies, On-Shoring in the North American Electronics Industry: Update on Trends and the Impact on Companies, has been published by IPC — Association Connecting Electronics Industries®. Presenting data collected by IPC over the past two years, the report highlights North American electronics industry trends in on-shoring and domestic sourcing and includes new data on the business impact from companies that have actually engaged in some form of on-shoring. 

According to the 2014 report, many companies have considered on-shoring, but only a few have taken action. North American and European companies from this select group reported the impact of on-shoring and domestic sourcing on their operational and financial performance in 2014, addressing metrics such as costs, delivery time, time to market, quality control, inventories and sales. “While data from a small sample is not statistically significant, it offers preliminary indications of how on-shoring has affected the companies that have adopted this strategy,” said Sharon Starr, IPC director of market research.

The current status of some high-profile on-shoring initiatives by Apple, Motorola, GE and other major companies is also provided in the report. Although not all of these on-shoring initiatives succeeded, those that did point the way for other companies.

The report also covers on-shoring drivers, deterrents and issues, domestic sourcing trends, the status of the cost gap, and recommendations for North American companies considering on-shoring. In addition, the report includes data from the large-sample studies conducted in 2012 and 2013.

On-Shoring in the North American Electronics Industry: 2014 Update on Trends and the Impact on Companies is a product of IPC’s market research service and is provided at no charge to companies that completed the survey. The report is available to IPC members for $225 and to nonmembers for $450.

For more information or to purchase the report, visit www.ipc.org/on-shoring2014. For information on other IPC market research services, visit www.ipc.org/industrydata or contact Sharon Starr at +1 845-597-2817 or SharonStarr@ipc.org.

IPC (www.IPC.org) is a global industry association based in Bannockburn, Ill., dedicated to the competitive excellence and financial success of its 3,500 member companies which represent all facets of the electronics industry, including design, printed board manufacturing, electronics assembly and test. As a member-driven organization and leading source for industry standards, training, market research and public policy advocacy, IPC supports programs to meet the needs of an estimated $2 trillion global electronics industry. IPC maintains additional offices in Taos, N.M.; Washington, D.C.; Stockholm, Sweden; Moscow, Russia; Bangalore and New Delhi, India; Bangkok, Thailand; and Qingdao, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Suzhou and Beijing, China.