The agreement covers the distribution of Toshiba’s complete line of memory and discrete products throughout North America, Europe and Asia, and is part of Toshiba’s goal of creating a seamless global supply chain for its customers. Tokyo-based Toshiba boasts that it is the first Japanese electronic components company to join forces with a U.S.-based distributor to establish such a program. George Rea, TAEC director of distribution, said the company has been working on this move for three years and believes it is vital for the industry. You need to have a global supply chain strategy in this world, Rea said.
Toshiba is one of the top three semiconductor companies in the world. We are pleased to expand our relationship into a real global partnership to serve our customers with Toshiba’s broad product offering and focused new technology products, said Brian Hilton, president of Avnet Electronics Marketing/Global.
While not every company along the electronics industry supply-chain continuum has a global presence, the few who do are of significant stature and are driving the trend toward global distribution agreements so that they can obtain the parts they need in the location they need them. There’s a very significant handful of global customers, including contract manufacturers. Today’s list is a couple of dozen companies. It’s going to grow exponentially as we go out two or three years, Rea said.
