[Elecraft] Parts availability

[James Driskell]

Unfortunately, the "Just In Time" concept that many US manufacturers have built their businesses around never considered the "you're never going to get it" approach that we now see.  I hope someone is taking a hard look at our national resource network because if the balloon goes up, we're going to have a hard time cranking up the domestic supply chain to meet our basic needs.  We probably won't have the luxury of being able to take our time to get it running.

Jim W7OWI

________________________________
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net <elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net> on behalf of Alan Bloom <n1al at sonic.net>
Sent: Monday, October 18, 2021 14:36
To: Elecraft Reflector <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>; Elecraft-K4 at groups.io <Elecraft-K4 at groups.io>
Subject: [Elecraft] Parts availability

Recently I tried to order some electronic parts for a project I am
working on.  In the old days (like, a year ago) I would just get on the
Digi-Key web site, order what I want, and it would arrive in the mail in
a few days.

These days, there are a LOT of parts on the Digi-Key web site that show
no availability.  I wanted to buy 10 standard, run-of-the-mill LM358
op-amps in an 8-pin DIP package.  This is a 25 cent part that has been
around for decades.  They had none in stock in that quantity, from any
manufacturer.  I ended up ordering a couple in the old-fashioned TO-5
metal can package for *10 bucks each*. At least they did have some of
those in stock.

I also wanted to buy a ceramic capacitor assortment.  They listed 6
assortments that would have worked for me, but all were out of stock.

Manufacturers with "just in time" parts ordering systems are in a world
of hurt these days.  Fortunately I don't think Elecraft ever went down
that path.

Alan N1AL
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to jmdriskell at msn.com