Modular Production Networks in Electronics: the Nexus between Management and Economics Research

In the last two decades, the electronics industry has evolved from a vertically integrated industry to a vertically segmented one. This transformation has often been attributed to the modularization of electronic products. In this paper, we argue that the degree of modularity is an active choice variable for a firm. As a result, it is necessary to focus on the underlying factors that drive both modularity and the organization of production. This provides insights into the transformation taking place in global electronics production, with vertical fragmentation, horizontal consolidation, and the growth of Asian electronics production.modularity, electronics, outsourcing, contract manufacturing, East Asia

Electronics Production Upgrading: Is China Exceptional?

In this paper, we make use of a unique world electronics production data set to assess China’s upgrading trajectory in the global electronics industry. Contrary to existing studies, we find no evidence that China’s electronics production activities are more sophisticated than one would expect from its level of development. We also find little evidence that China is rapidly upgrading into more sophisticated production activities.China, industrial upgrading, electronics

Flexible workforces and low profit margins: electronics assembly between Europe and China

This book investigates restructuring in the electronics industry and in particular the impact of a \u2018Chinese\u2019 labour regime on work and employ - ment practices in electronics assembly in Europe.1 Electronics is an extremely dynamic sector, characterized by an ever-changing organi - zational structure, as well as cut-throat competition, particularly in manufacturing. Located primarily in East Asia, electronics assembly has become notorious for poor working conditions, low unionisation and authoritarian labour relations. However, hostile labour relations and topdown HR policies are not unique to East Asia. They have become associated with the way the sector is governed more broadly, with a number of Western companies also coming to rely on such practices

Foreign Direct Investment and Electronics Exports: Exploratory Empirical Evidence from Malaysia's Top Five Electronics Exports

The foreign direct investment (FDI) has contributed significantly to Malaysia's electronics exports as well as the growth and development of the electronics industry as a result of the export-oriented industrialization initiatives undertaken since 1970s. The aim of this study is to explore the causation between FDI and electronics exports by using Malaysia''s top five electronics exports by SITC (Standard International Trade Classification) product groups. The findings show a bi-directional causality between FDI and exports of semiconductor devices in the short run. The present study provides important policy implications towards the competitiveness of electronics exports and also promoting and targeting FDI inflows into key and priority growth in the electronics sub-sectors.

Modular Production Networks in Electronics: The Nexus between Management and Economics Research

In the last two decades, the electronics industry has evolved from a vertically integrated in-dustry to a vertically segmented one. This transformation has often been attributed to the modularization of electronic products. In this paper, we argue that the degree of modularity is an active choice variable for a firm. As a result, it is necessary to focus on the underlying fac-tors that drive both modularity and the organization of production. This provides insights into the transformation taking place in global electronics production, with vertical fragmentation, horizontal consolidation, and the growth of Asian electronics production.Modularity, electronics, outsourcing, contract manufacturing, East Asia

Micro-focus X-ray imaging

The acceptance of surface mounting in the electronics industry has been slowed by problems with component availability, electrical testing, and inspection. Industry suppliers and users have been working to solve these problems, and they are easing. Component manufacturers are offering substantially more devices in surface mountable packages. Automated test equipment vendors are offering test fixtures for surface mount circuit boards. And just recently, solder connection inspection has been automated through a partership effort with a major electronics manufacturer. The results achieved in this effort are presented

Electronics: A potted history and a glimpse of the future

Keynote Speech. New Zealand has a thriving electronics industry with a long history. The renowned Kiwi ingenuity fits in well with the creative, understanding-based aspects of electronics, a discipline that is both an art and a science. However, the face of electronics is changing with the passing decades

Novel modeling strategy for a BCI set-up applied in an automotive application: an industrial way to use EM simulation tools to help Hardware and ASIC designers to improve their designs for immunity tests

Electronics suppliers of automotive industry use BCI (Bulk Current Injection) measurements to qualify immunity robustness of their equipment whereas electronics components manufacturers use DPI (Direct Power Injection) to qualify immunity of their component. Due to harness resonances, levels obtained during a BCI test exceed standard DPI requirements imposed by automotive suppliers onto components' manufacturers. We propose to use BCI set-up modeling to calculate the equivalent DPI level obtained at the component level during equipment testing and to compare results with DPI measurements realized at IC level

The Effects of Export, Technical change and Markup on Total Factor Productivity Growth: Evidence from Singapore's Electronics Industry

This paper illustrates a new technique to measure the effect of export demand on the conventional TFP growth index at the industry level. We apply the technique to Singapore’s electronics industry and find that rapid growth in exports accounts for most of the TFP growth in this industry.TFP growth, exports, Singapore's electronics industry

The electronics industry in central and eastern Europe: an emerging production location in the alignment of networks perspective

This paper analyses the emergence of central Europe as a new location for the production of electronics. The main factors that drive integration in the region into global production networks are also analysed, as well as prospects for upgrading the industry by using network alignment perspectives. Foreign investment is the primary vehicle of integration of CEE electronics firms into global production networks, and Hungary has moved furthest along this path, positioning itself as a major low-cost supply base in the region. Czech and Polish electronics industries are connected, in smaller, but increasing, degrees to international electronics production networks. Networks that are being built in CEE in electronics are usually confined to subsidiaries with still limited local subcontracting; they are export-oriented and are expanding. Local subsidiaries have mastered production capabilities and several subsidiaries in Hungary are European mandate suppliers in their respective lines of business. EU demand is the main pull factor, which gives cohesion to the actions of MNCs as well as to the action of local and national governments in CEE. The layer of local firms is still very weak with very limited capabilities in core technologies. This is the key weakness which prevents further alignment of networks in CEE electronics. Local governments play an important role in working jointly with foreign investors in establishing industrial parks and new capacities