Wednesday, June 01, 2005
Supply Chain Disruptions Expected from Lead-Free Conversion
According to Peter Lachapelle, VP of content and SRM at i2 Technologies Inc. in Dallas, problems will arise on a number of fronts, from part numbering to the availability of components that are exempted for defense and telecommunications.
...About 30 percent of the component supplier community balked at the change, preferring instead to issue lot codes and date stamps to indicate new lead-free versions of their parts.
...Lachapelle also see major difficulties arising from a component industry that is producing both lead-free and exempt components, as some portions of the industry will lose benefits of mass production.
...He notes that some OEMs are already stockpiling leaded components that they don’t expect will be available after the switch to lead-free parts.
...He notes that many engineers in defense don’t believe parts suppliers will continue producing leaded products at low prices just for the exempt portion of the components market.
Electronic News 6/1/05
...About 30 percent of the component supplier community balked at the change, preferring instead to issue lot codes and date stamps to indicate new lead-free versions of their parts.
...Lachapelle also see major difficulties arising from a component industry that is producing both lead-free and exempt components, as some portions of the industry will lose benefits of mass production.
...He notes that some OEMs are already stockpiling leaded components that they don’t expect will be available after the switch to lead-free parts.
...He notes that many engineers in defense don’t believe parts suppliers will continue producing leaded products at low prices just for the exempt portion of the components market.
Electronic News 6/1/05
# posted by Lynn Wegley @ 6:50 PM 
