𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐂𝐁 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐞

It is January 2026. Look at the state of the electronics supply chain.

Copper is up. Gold is trading at record highs, driving ENIG finishes through the roof. Capacity for high-complexity HDI boards is being swallowed whole by the AI and EV sectors before the quarter even begins.

In this environment, resting on your laurels isn’t just lazy. It is a critical supply chain risk.

Yet many procurement teams are still operating on a 2024 mindset. They prioritize “relationship” over resilience. They worry about hurting a supplier’s feelings.

They view the Request for Quote (RFQ) as a weapon to bludgeon prices down rather than a tool for governance.

If this sounds familiar, you are likely suffering from a dangerous condition I call “incumbent paralysis.” You have a single point of failure, but because you have lunch with them once a quarter, it feels like safety.

It is not safety. It is leverage. Their leverage.

Every serious PCB buyer needs a robust vendor bench. You need options.

And if you refuse to build one at all? You are operating with a single point of failure. It might have a friendly face. It might send you holiday gift baskets.

But when the market turns—and it always turns—that friendly face will not save your production line. Only a qualified, active, and competitive bench can do that.

So, look at your vendor list today. Who is your Core? Who are your Challengers? If you can’t answer that, it’s time to send out some RFQs.

Just make sure you are ready to sign the PO when the right quote comes back.