Avnet Electronics Marketing's Singapore Programming Centre certified for automotive industry's 'quality management standard of the future'
Singapore -- Avnet Electronics Marketing's Programming Centre in Singapore has been certified as fully compliant with the ISO/TS 16949 -- a quality management standard hailed by many as 'the future for the automotive sector.'
'The ISO/TS 16949 standard is a quality management system specifically for the automotive sector,' said Louis Lam, vice president of logistics, operations and IT at Avnet Electronics Marketing Asia. 'Without possessing this standard, companies cannot perform value-added services like device programming for automotive products.'
Avnet Electronics Marketing's programming service turns programmable components into customised devices for specific applications -- whether they are for small prototype quantities or volume production needs.
The compliance certification, which is valid for three years, was awarded by Lloyds Register of Quality Assurance (LRQA), one of the world's most experienced organisations in helping customers use management systems to improve their businesses.
While Avnet Electronics Marketing's Singapore Programming Centre is the first Avnet centre in Asia to receive the certificate, others are expected to mirror the practice, which will result in quicker turnaround for automotive business and increased customer satisfaction and confidence levels.
'The international standard ISO/TS 16949 was developed to harmonise and integrate various quality management systems, providing a universal standard that encompasses all requirements relevant in the automotive industry. It is set to provide significant benefits to those companies supplying them,' said Lam. 'This is a major competitive advantage when you consider that we are on the doorstep of China and its booming auto industry.'
According to research firm Strategy Analytics, automotive semiconductor revenues are expected to grow from US$13.7 billion in 2003 to US$23.2 billion in 2008, at an average growth rate of 11.1 per cent per year. The auto market in Asia, especially in China, is expected to account for a large part of this growth.
Established in 1985 by the internationally renowned Lloyd's Register and being a leader in the automotive field, LRQA is one of a select few recognised by the IATF to provide this certification.
'We are extremely pleased to have received this important accreditation,' Lam added. 'It means that our people are certified to handle the rigorous requirements and procedures of the automotive industry and, with this sector growing so rapidly in the region, we are very optimistic that many more embedded IC producers will want us to program their devices too.'
Avnet Electronic Marketing's global infrastructure provides customers with support from any part of the world. The company opened its Singapore Programming Centre (PC) in 2001 with a primary role to program ICs in devices for products in all industrial segments. The Singapore programming centre employs about 40 people. In addition, the company operates PCs in Shanghai, Hong Kong, North America, Mexico and Europe.
About Avnet Electronics Marketing
Avnet Electronics Marketing Asia is part of Phoenix-based Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT), a Fortune 500 company with fiscal 2006 sales exceeding USD$14.25 billion. Serving customers in approximately 70 countries, Avnet is one of the world's largest technology marketing, distribution and services companies.
Avnet Electronics Marketing has a significant presence in Asia-Pacific -- the fastest growing electronics market in the world. With its regional headquarters in Singapore, the company has 38 locations in 10 countries in Asia. It distributes semiconductors, interconnect, passive and electromechanical components to serve a wide range of customers including original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), electronic manufacturing services (EMS) providers, and small- to medium-sized businesses, and provides associated design-chain and supply-chain services. The company's web site is located at www.em.avnet.com
Issued on behalf of Avnet Electronics Marketing by
Euan Barty Associates
For further information contact:
Jaime Chan: (852) 2410 2735
Email: jaime.chan@avnet.com
Brian Peterson (EBA): (852) 2537 8022
Email: brian@eba.com.hk