E&A parrot takes flight: Arrow Electronics about the components

Behind the colorful appearance of the E&A parrot lies a whole team. The trade fair gadget of Electronics & Applications 2021 is a voice recorder in the shape of a parrot. Behind the scenes, hard work has been done on the creation of this electronic bird. Regional sales manager Huub Vergouwen of Arrow Electronics (stand no. 7C024) explains how the components were chosen.

By Frank van de Ven

To take care of the components of the E&A parrot, the expertise of Arrow Electronics was called in. “We were approached by FHI with the question whether we wanted to sponsor components for the E&A parrot,” Vergouwen explains. “The design of the trade fair gadget was already finished. Dekimo took care of the design so we contacted them directly. A number of ICs, and the processor that was in the design, were not in stock. If we had to order this specific processor, they would never arrive on time.”

Ordering the originally planned components was not an option. The corona crisis – and all attempts to contain the virus – have caused a global shortage. “We therefore consulted with the Dekimo team to select alternative components. By searching our own stock, we found available materials that possibly met the desired specifications of the original processors. Once we had found these alternatives, we immediately reserved the stock for the parrot. This eliminated risks, because the desired quantity of components was available on time. The required NFC chip, for example, was sufficiently in stock, so that did not cause any problems. (NFC stands for Near Field Communication. ed.)”

Design phase
According to Vergouwen, Arrow has a large number of services at its disposal, so that it can respond promptly to possible material shortages. The company has a large number of channels, including branches in Asia, America and Europe. If there are no more stocks in those branches, two of our digital channels are available. "If the desired material is not available there either, our sister company Converge can provide a solution," Vergouwen explains. "They can search for materials on the open market. If that does not work, we can ask Silicon Expert for help. They have a large component database in which possible alternatives can be found to create a quick fix solution. If these channels do not lead to the desired result, assistance with a re-design is a possibility.”

Suppliers prefer to be involved in projects in the design phase, says Vergouwen: “This way we can think along about the components. Are the desired materials available in the short and long term? And is the project feasible given the delivery times of a solution or should other technology be used? The sooner we know what the customer wants, the sooner we can purchase the components. If we are involved in the process at a later stage, we can look for alternatives if necessary.”

Huge impact
It is clear that component and material shortages have a huge impact on the industrial electronics sector. It is still unclear what the future will bring. Vergouwen thinks that the shortage will eventually disappear, but not in the short term: “Maybe at the end of next year. The corona crisis is still ongoing and is even flaring up again in other parts of the world. A number of companies are slowly increasing their capacity, but at the same time the handbrake remains on. You are dealing with a predicted growth compared to the demand. However, manufacturers are cautious, because they do not want to be left with an immense stock if it turns out to be a bubble and the demand is not that great in practice. In the Netherlands we see that the demand remains very high.”

The corona crisis is far from over. “Now that the Delta variant is coming, the measures have been tightened. This means that there are fewer people in the factory, which has consequences for the capacity. How this will develop further remains unclear for the time being. There is no solution yet. At the moment, there is mainly a need for information. What are the average delivery times and what prices can be expected? It is wise for customers to plan ahead as much as possible and think about the desired components. By acting quickly, you can avoid being at the back of the queue. Advice and a large component database can make the difference,” Vergouwen concludes.

Name
Huub Vergouwen
Organization
Arrow Electronics 
Parrot project function
Components supply and selection
Job description
Regional sales manager