4 Tips to Thrive During a Chip Shortage
The recent chip shortage has added additional hurdles to an already complex process of product development. Never one to back down from a challenge our team at Acorn has come up with a few simple tips that can help keep your next project moving smoothly.
01: Procure Immediately
Remember to procure scarce components first and be sure to get enough to cover the entire anticipated production run.
02: Choose Carefully
Choose components that are made by various manufacturers. This enables drop-in replacements if anything goes awry.
03: Favor What’s Common
Favor component packages that are common. Stock levels of these packages are typically higher, and there is a good chance it’s offered by multiple vendors.
04: Design-in
Space permitting, design-in alternate footprints and add features to support them. This will increase the number of compatible component options.
These 4 tips are not exclusive to chips and can be applied to a wide variety of parts. Scarcity, long lead times, and manufacturing challenges can all lead to expensive changes late in the development process if you are not prepared for them. At Acorn we have over 30 years of experience getting projects to market and are able to overcome these potential pitfalls by employing risk mitigation exercises early in our process. To learn more about how Acorn can help your next project, fill out the form below and get a free consultation!