ADI & TI power devices shortage - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 25, 2021, 05:00:22 pm
content: Anyone noticed this -- a large number of ADI parts (and a couple of TI parts) are really hard to buy right now.e.g. LT8648S, LT8643S, LTC7151S, and TPS621351 are the ones I've had trouble sourcing for a Vcore supply for a new design I am working on. Problem is I need a small solution size combined with wide input voltage, so there are limited options available, and the majority of them are out of stock or in such low quantity at distributors (and often only at e.g. Digi-Key or Mouser, with everyone else at zero stock) that I would not feel comfortable designing them in.COVID related supply-chain headaches? Many of these are newer parts, which might explain some of the shortages.edit: added another part

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 25, 2021, 08:51:33 pm
content: Interesting, go on TIs site for TPS621351 and they just say "out of stock" no mention of lead time at all.Digikey lists Sept 2021 as approximate arrival, wow.

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 26, 2021, 04:23:01 pm
content: Spoke to TI rep and they can't even confirm when parts will be available.Apparently shortage is related to automotive parts shortage though, car manufacturers (and their suppliers) have bought all the parts they can to keep things running and things are still running short.

author: Echo88
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2021, 06:00:41 am
content: https://hackaday.com/2021/01/18/pandemic-chip-shortages-are-shutting-down-automotive-production/

author: S. Petrukhin
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2021, 08:41:09 pm
content: And they will appear with a price 2-3 times higher...

author: Marco
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 01, 2021, 02:59:19 pm
content: Quote from: tom66 on January 26, 2021, 04:23:01 pmOr perhaps they and the rest of the industry overreacted? From ordering weeks ahead to locking in supply a year ahead?I wouldn't be surprised if for the next year massive amounts of impossible to order parts will be just useless locked up capital in warehouses.

author: S. Petrukhin
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 01, 2021, 03:06:22 pm
content: Quote from: Marco on February 01, 2021, 02:59:19 pmAnd let the bastards, who created the panic and excitement, go broke.

author: Marco
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 01, 2021, 03:58:40 pm
content: Quote from: S. Petrukhin on February 01, 2021, 03:06:22 pmThe car manufacturers with products with huge lead times can swallow the locked up capital of zealous pre-ordering.Everyone who didn't know a year ahead what he approximately needed and couldn't get into the early ordering frenzy is screwed.

author: S. Petrukhin
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 01, 2021, 04:51:03 pm
content: Quote from: Marco on February 01, 2021, 03:58:40 pmI do not know whether car manufacturers have their own divisions for the production of electronics or turn to contractors. But, in any case, it seems strange. Even if they do not buy stocks for a year in advance, they do everything, do not replenish them with a stock for a certain significant period, they do everything "from the wheels", there must be contractual agreements on regular deliveries with some schedule. With their volumes, these are contracts directly with chip manufacturers, and some evil huckster crooks can't interfere here.But, you know, judging by the disgusting and stupid advertising of cars, I can assume that automakers have the same incompetent employees in other areas. They are spoiled by high salaries, they know how to say the right words, but they screwed up.

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 01, 2021, 05:06:26 pm
content: You got to remember that most car manufacturers don't make most of their car. They're chassis builders who know what bits to fit but very little of e.g. a modern Golf is built by VW.So the parts shortage with e.g. buck converters affects Panasonic that makes the head unit for VW Mk8 Golf (if it's the same as mk7). L0ots of automotive companies and suppliers operate on Just in Time so have a day or less of inventory in stock at any moment - it lowers warehousing costs and build cost but it has to go absolutely perfect and if things go wrong then it can take months to recover. I think what we see here is a load of Tier 2 and Tier 3 suppliers all struggle to get parts for their builds due to COVID headaches. Requirements on social distancing in fabs / production facilities probably also limit capacity there.I think it shows the danger of JIT really. It's fine when things are going well but it's a disaster if anything breaks down.