About Author

Laura V. Garcia

Laura V. Garcia is a freelance supply chain and procurement writer and a one-time Editor-in-Chief of Procurement magazine.A former Procurement Manager with over 20 years of industry experience, Laura understands well the realities, nuances and complexities behind meeting the five R’s of procurement and likes to focus on the "how," writing about risk and resilience and leveraging developing technologies and digital solutions to deliver value.When she’s not writing, Laura enjoys facilitating solutions-based, forward-thinking discussions that help highlight some of the good going on in procurement because the world needs stronger, more responsible supply chains.

Recent Articles

Extreme Weather Becomes a New Supply Chain Challenge

Extreme Weather Becomes a New Supply Chain Challenge Several key weather incidents have disrupted logistics and manufacturing processes in recent years and significantly impacted supply chains worldwide. In 2018 and 2022, drought episodes led to critically low water levels in the Rhine, severely limiting inland shipping and choking German industry. Just this past January, FedEx warned of delivery delays due to winter weather, activating contingency plans following “substantial disruptions” at a Read Article

New Workforce Programs for PCBs and Semiconductors

New Workforce Programs for PCBs and Semiconductors The U.S. will manufacture a fifth of the world's most advanced logic chips by 2030, backed by a domestic supply chain spanning raw materials to packaging, announced Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. However, industry and government officials have emphasized that new factories could fail without substantial labor investment. Projections indicate that the U.S. may face a shortfall of 90,000 technicians by 2030, coinciding with the goal to produce Read Article

Chemical Processes Could Make Semiconductor Manufacturing More Sustainable

Chemical Processes Could Make Semiconductor Manufacturing More Sustainable Although essential to modern life, semiconductor manufacturing is energy- and resource-intensive, demanding higher consumption of electricity, water, chemicals, and process gases, all of which contribute to greater energy use and environmental impact—an unfortunate reality that is further compounded by the increased complexity of advanced chip manufacturing and increased demand. "If the current growth path were to continue unchecked, carbon Read Article

New Tariffs on China

New Tariffs on China: A Summary of the Upcoming Section 301 Tariff Changes In an attempt to level the playing field for American businesses and workers, the Biden administration has slapped new tariffs on an array of Chinese imports, imposed under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. Following a four-year review of Section 301 trade actions, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) issued a Federal Register Notice (FRN) detailing the conclusion of the statutory four-year review. Additional US tariffs have been Read Article

New Global Semiconductor Co-Investment Programs

New Global Semiconductor Co-Investment Programs The worldwide pursuit of semiconductor co-investment programs; a recap of the 2024 IEEE Electronic Components and Technology Conference (ECTC) Read Article

Water Reduction and Reclamation in PCB Manufacturing

Water Reduction and Reclamation in PCB Manufacturing It’s no secret that PCB manufacturing uses copious amounts of water—as much as 264 billion gallons per year. Until a recent shift in trend, sustainability initiatives have been mainly focused on decreasing carbon emissions and energy consumption. However, the industry is now turning toward water reduction and reclamation to preserve natural resources and contribute toward a more balanced (and health-safe) planet. And it couldn’t be soon enough Read Article

Where Companies Are Going After They Leave China

Where Companies Are Going After They Leave China Following economic reforms that provided tax breaks, subsidies, and other incentives and thereby opened China's proverbial doors to foreign investment, China swiftly became the world's most popular manufacturing hub. Low labor costs and a robust infrastructure, including roads, ports, and airports that make it easy to transport goods in and out of China, and a strong technology sector that placed Chinese companies at the forefront of developing Read Article

Overview of TSCA’s New PFAS Requirements

Overview of TSCA’s New PFAS Requirements Quick Reference Guide: Important Dates and Resources For most covered entities: The EPA submission period begins on November 12, 2024, and closes on May 8, 2025 Toxic Substances Control Act Section 8(a)(7)- Published October 11, 2023 Central Data Exchange (EPA’s electronic reporting site) Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory Instructions for Reporting PFAS Under TSCA Section 8(a)(7) (EPA) FOR FURTHER INFORMATION Read Article

Where to Find PFAS in Electronics

Where to Find PFAS in Electronics Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances ( PFAS) are a group of nearly 15,000 synthetic chemicals, “forever chemicals” that are extremely slow to degrade, remaining in the environment for an unknown amount of time and, over time, possibly leaking into the soil, water, and air. Besides their environmental impact, health regulators are concerned about how exposure to these chemicals may impact human health, including increasing the risk of some cancers Read Article

IPC and US DOL Workforce Partnership: An In-Depth Analysis

IPC and US DOL Workforce Partnership: An In-Depth Analysis “Effective government-industry collaboration can overcome the talent shortage facing our industry, build the strongest American tech workforce possible, and unleash the full potential of semiconductor innovation.”— Matt Johnson, president and CEO of Silicon Labs and SIA board chair. Finally, a step in the right direction, some help in developing your workforce and unleashing potential, courtesy of IPC International Inc., a global association of Read Article

How Bad Are the Workforce Challenges in Electronics Manufacturing?

How Bad Are the Workforce Challenges in Electronics Manufacturing? An aging workforce. A generation with a new mentality and different expectations. Surging demand and an industry that requires esoteric knowledge, practical experience, and hard and soft skills—it’s a confluence of circumstances that have led to a significant talent deficit. A study prepared for the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) by Oxford Economics showed the U.S. semiconductor industry faces a shortfall of roughly 67,000 workers by Read Article