RFID: Tag, You’re It!

Whether you like it or not, everything you buy and everywhere you go may soon be tracked by a tiny but powerful piece of technology: The RFID. This technology is changing the way our world works at an incredibly rapid pace, and it’s already all around us—soon, perhaps, even in us. more

Telecom in Transition, Moving at Hyper-Speed

Many of us remember rotary phones. Others remember their first cell phone as being anything but pocket-sized. Now, we’re literally carrying a computer in our pocket. Just as your personal phone is changing, the behind-the-scenes equipment that enables these improvements is also in transition. more

Power Contacts and Connectors, Part 1: Power Distribution
High-current contacts, several tens of amperes, require low and stable connector resistance to minimize Joule heating. These requirements drive both material and design decisions. more

Up, Down, All Around: First Half 2010 Results and Outlook
The highs and lows of 2009-2010 were historical. Ron Bishop presents the industry sales results for the first half of 2010, and the outlook for the balance of the year. more

Survey Results
The electronics industry is performing better than the overall economy, and the first-half 2010 sales results were outstanding. Compared to the first half of 2010, 20.9 percent of our readers believe second-half 2010 sales will soften, 48.8 percent believe sales will stay about the same, and 30.2 percent believe sales will increase.

Today's Survey
Business is very good now and backlogs are rising. However, everyone is still anxious and concerned about the ongoing strength and sustainability of the recovery. There is some concern about the possibility of a double-dip recession. In your opinion, what is the probability of another recession occurring in 2011?

What do you believe is the probability of another recession occurring in 2011? 100%, I’m sure that a recession will occur in 2011 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%, I do not believe we’ll experience a recession in 2011.

Focus on: Adam Fletcher
Adam Fletcher is a self-made man. This isn't the usual "newspaper boy turns millionaire" story, but instead someone who, through hard work, enthusiasm, and perseverance, combined with business acumen, has become a well-known figure in the electronics industry — not just in the U.K. but further afield. I have had the pleasure of meeting Adam on several occasions. With his industry know-how and his willingness to always lend a hand, Adam makes himself stand out. 
                                                                           —Arthur Visser, Bishop & Associates Inc.

Adam Fletcher, chairman of the Electronic Components Supply Network – United Kingdom, a leading trade association
Previous industry positions: Corporate Officer – Memec Group
Industry affiliations or organizations: Vice president of the International Distribution of Electronics Association (IDEA), an association of leading electronic components trade associations
I’m also a director of several commercial companies, primarily in the electronics market, that effectively fund my contribution to the development of the electronic components industry via leadership of member-managed trade associations.
Accomplishments you’re proud of: Helping raise four sons is probably my enduring accomplishment to society; however, on a purely selfish note, gaining an MBA for a non-academic was great.
First job: Motorcycle mechanic. I quit school early, unqualified, and needed to earn some money quickly, so I took the best paying job I could, based on my existing skill set. Although I was earning three times as much as my peer group, I quickly realized I needed to get educated, and I landed a job with Cossor/Raytheon Electronics, where they kindly allowed me to study at a local technical college one day a week.
Favorite website: www.google.co.uk A wonderful window into the world of information, learning, and discovery.
The last book I read: The Road to Wigan Pier by George Orwell, I don’t recommend it, a fairly bleak account of life during the Depression of the 1930s. I do, however, highly recommend The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Dr. Steven Covey.
Why did you choose this industry for your profession? I didn’t so much choose it as fell into it… In the 1970s, finding a job was easy by today’s standards. Being enthusiastic and willing to try hard gave you a chance to prove your ability. I was fortunate to enter an industry where mainframe computing was becoming the norm, and quickly learned IT skills on the job that helped me progress my career enormously.
If I knew then what I know now, I would have: Studied at school, taken an IT- or finance-related degree, and made a fortune as a consultant!
The best advice anyone ever gave me was: We had an elderly American gentleman, Mr. Fiddeman, who was a bursar at school. As a bored student, I got to spend quite a lot of time with him and he told me this… “Life is like series of ladders, when you reach the top of one, it’s merely the beginning of the next,” and most importantly, “Be nice to everyone on the way up because you don’t know when you’ll be meeting them on the way down!”
What trend in the industry is affecting your job and what would you like to do about it? A failure by organizations to effectively communicate their material needs in the overall supply network. This leads to a feast or famine mentality and great inefficiency across our industry, as the real demand is so difficult to forecast accurately. I’m trying to encourage increased open and honest communication between trusted supply network partners who I’m convinced will benefit as a result. This has to encompass a genuine understanding of the motivations of all parties, the risks and rewards, and how, through open dialogue, a win-win outcome can be achieved.

Other comments: I can think of few other industries (with perhaps the exception of motor racing) I could wish to work in. The technical complexity and dynamic nature of the electronic components industry and having the privilege of working with great people ensure it continues to be rewarding, exciting, and most importantly, great fun.

Note: In the future, Mr. Fletcher will contribute more information about ecsn and the European marketplace to our readers.

And the winner is...
Melodi Strauss, operations manager for Video Iconix in Santa Barbara, California, U.S. Congratulations, and thanks for playing.

Question from ConnectorSupplier.com Volume 6, Issue 14: Electronics have been integrated into just about every consumer appliance, from televisions to toothbrushes. Much of our music is shaped and amplified by electronic devices, too. But in the early 1920s, a new musical instrument was developed that had a very unique characteristic: It was the only instrument that could be played without touching it. Several composers wrote music specifically for this device, and its characteristic sound was used extensively in 1950s science fiction films. What is the name of this electronic musical instrument?

Answer: Invented in 1920 by Russian physicist Lev Sergeyevich Termen (later known as Léon Theremin), the theremin is considered to be a precursor of the Moog Synthesizer and stimulated interest in electronic music. The pitch and volume of the theremin are adjusted when the musician moves his or her hands in proximity to two antennas. Hobbyist kits and completed instruments are available to enthusiasts today.

Question for ConnectorSupplier.com Volume 6, Issue 15: Not to be confused with 1960s “flower children,” this connector interface was replaced with the SCSI connector. What industry advances led to the demise of this interconnect and what was its name?

Provide us with an interesting trivia question related to the connector world, and if we use it, we’ll send you $50. If you know the answer to this issue’s question, you could also win $50. Send your answer to trivia@connectorsupplier.com. If there are multiple correct responses, a random winner will be drawn. You must subscribe to be eligible to win. Good luck!

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Connector Fundamentals

November 8 and 9
and
Power Connector/Contact Fundamentals
November 10 and 11

Fall Seminars
 

Location
Colonel Blackinton Inn
Attleboro, Mass.
 

Tom Peel, of Contech Research Inc., and Dr. Bob Mroczkowski, of connNtext associates, announce their Fall Connector Seminar Series. Two seminars will be presented, Connector Fundamentals and Power Connector/Contact Fundamentals. Connector Fundamentals will be offered November 8 and 9, and Power Connector/Contact Fundamentals on November 10 and 11. For further information on the seminar content, contact:

Tom Peel
Contech Research Inc.
tpeel@contechresearch.com or CONRESTFP@aol.com
Tel: 508.226.4800

View Complete Calendar