EDS 2010 Show Daily
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Wednesday
EDS 2010 kick-off event spotlights industry leaders
LAS VEGAS, NV - Electronic components industry stakeholders came together to celebrate excellence and enjoy face-to-face time with customers and colleagues at the All-Industry Reception on May 11 at Paris Hotel in Las Vegas. With the theme "What can we do better this year?" George Bournazian of BtB Marketing led industry media partners in the presentation of the results of The Electronics Pulse, the first industry-wide survey spotlighting the attitudes of engineering, purchasing and corporate management.
"While a keynote address is educational and informative, this year we wanted to offer something that presented an insider's view of the electronics industry," said Gerald Newman, EDS executive vice president. "This survey, using various criteria, will recognize the distributors and manufacturers in organizations of all sizes with many different specialties, mentioned by the colleagues they work with every day."
Awards were presented to Digikey for Most user-friendly website, to Grayhill for Manufacturer who provides the best overall support, to TTI for National distributor known for best overall support, programs, product knowledge and employee training, to Hammond for Regional distributor known for best overall support, programs, product knowledge and employee training, and to Arrow for Most favored national distributor.
Prior to the event, the survey was emailed to subscribers of EE Times, ECN, Purchasing Electronics, Electronics Sourcing North America, Battery Power, EP&T, Canadian Electronics and other industry publications. With over 450 responses, there is a good chance that the survey will become a regular activity of the conference.
"We know that EDS is where the electronics industry gathers together to do business, and participants are telling us that they want more face-time with colleagues and customers to maximize the conference experience," said Newman. "The All-Industry Reception recognizes the leaders in the industry, spotlights their best practices, and provides an opportunity for networking even before the conference officially starts."
Over roast beef with killer horseradish source, participants talked about the challenging year behind and expressed cautious optimism looking forward. "Orders are slightly up, and things are looking better," Robert Willis, president of ECA. He noted that shortage of raw materials caused in part by unstable political climates in some export nations remains an issue for many manufacturers and expressed hope that it will be mitigated in the best possible way.
Gary Smith of Yorba Linda, Calif.-based GL Smith Associates said that despite many obstacles, his company is determined to work harder and smarter this year to earn business.
"Long leads times will become reality, expediting will become a way of life, and the question will be how we respond to these challenges," he said. "The principals that step up will be successful and those that try to dictate to the marketplace will perish. I am going to be very demanding and forceful in doing what is necessary to achieve our customers' needs."
Also Awarded (Photos not available)
Most favored national distributor – Arrow
Regional distributor known for best overall
support, programs, product knowledge
and employee training – Hammond
ECA to assume management of EDS
ECA, NEDA and ERA to produce the show by the industry for the industry
LAS VEGAS, NV – A new chapter in the history of the 73- year-old Electronic Distribution Show (EDS) opened today when it was announced that the Electronic Components Association (ECA) will assume management for EDS 2011 through 2013.
The change will give the three long-time sponsoring organizations – ECA, the National Electronic Distributors Association (NEDA), and the Electronics Representatives Association (ERA) – greater day-to-day input into the structure and future of EDS.
The EDS Board, with equal representation from ECA, NEDA and ERA, is maintaining continuity for next year's event by retaining Gerald Newman, long-time leader of EDS's management team, as general counsel for the show, and Gretchen Oie as EDS show manager on ECA's conference staff.
"The electronics industry owes a debt of gratitude to the management team led by Gerald Newman," says James Kaplan, President of Cornell Dubilier and EDS Board president. "We plan to maintain the standards of management excellence sustained by EDS over many decades, while infusing the show with new ideas and programs based on direct input from the electronics distribution community."
Bob Willis, ECA president, says the new management will ensure that the annual event reflects the ongoing needs of the three sponsoring organizations' members.
"We will tap into current industry issues and our memberships' priorities to make EDS the premier event for achieving supply chain excellence," he says. "This will truly be an event managed by the industry for the industry."
ECA represents the electronic components industry and the technologies, materials and supply chain associated with it. NEDA represents supplier authorized distributors of electronic components and their manufacturer partners. ERA represents electronics field sales organizations in the electronics and high-technology industries.
Tuesday
Electronics industry associations announce merger
LAS VEGAS, NV - The National Electronics Distributors Association (NEDA) and the Electronic Components Association (ECA) have announced an agreement to merge. A merger transition team has been created to finalize details. Pending completion of the due diligence process, the new association, to be named the Electronic Components Industry Association (ECIA), will commence operation in January 2011.
The mission of the new association will be to promote and improve the business environment for the authorized sales of electronic components. The merger will enable the industry to speak with one voice for the manufacturers and distributors of electronic components on issues of critical importance to the authorized channel. The combined membership, resources and leadership will incorporate the necessary elements to provide enhanced member benefits and services while reducing duplication of efforts and decreasing costs.
"NEDA and ECA have been united with respect to their fight against counterfeit product and in support of the authorized channel," said Robin B. Gray, Jr., NEDA executive vice president. "It makes good business sense to combine our efforts for maximum effectiveness."
ECIA is expected to become the premier association in the electronics industry today, championing best manufacturing practices, standards, industry advocacy and industry statistics. ECA and NEDA will continue to manage unique programs and services for each association's constituencies prior to full integration into the new association.
"Our associations have worked together on past events that have proven to be highly beneficial to our combined memberships," said Bob Willis, ECA president. "ECIA will extend cooperative efforts to ECA and NEDA into year-round programs that will enable our members to weather change, exploit new technologies, and create a better environment for business success."
ERA business center offers services, consultations to reps, manufacturers
Manufacturers and field sales reps attending EDS 2010 are invited to make the Electronics Representatives Association (ERA) Business & Hospitality Center in the Tri- Association area your EDS headquarters. New this year, member reps and manufacturers can take advantage of free Internet service available during all show hours. As usual, ERA's member services also include free coffee and space for small meetings.
Member reps and manufacturers are urged to make the ERA Center your first stop to pick up your member ribbon and your copy of the EDS Lines Available Bulletin. Be sure to visit with the ERA Recognize Resource suppliers exhibiting in the booth, including Brent Charles of RPMS, Carroll Boysen of Empowering Systems and Louis Lavin of Eyond.
All manufacturers who are seeking qualified professional field sales reps and who have not already listed their products in the ERA Special Edition EDS Lines Available Bulletin can still take advantage of this free service during the show. Just stop by the ERA Center and ask to fill out a Line Available card. While there, pick up many helpful publications designed specifically for manufacturers who sell through professional field sales reps.
Manufacturers who are new to selling through reps and are seeking advice about establishing, expanding or managing their rep networks can also meet with ERA consultant Robert Terwall, former president of Cherry Electrical Products. He will be available to discuss all aspects of taking product to market through reps. In addition, Electronica 2010 representative Sabine Kallup will be on hand to offer global marketing guidance and information about participating in Electronica, the world's largest electronics industry trade show. Electronica runs Nov. Nov. 9-12 in Munich, Germany.
Non-member reps and those new to the business are also urged to visit the ERA Business Center to request information on the association's many membership benefits and pick up many free resource materials.