Spirit: Behind the Screen

Smarter Supply Chain: BOM Management & Automation with Purchasing Director Kelly Krall

In this episode, Spirit's Director of Purchasing Kelly Krall talks with Marti about supplier management and automation.

 

With lead times and prices constantly shifting in the post-covid supply chain, Kelly has found that the key to meeting customer requirements is communication and insight around delays and changes. Her purchasing team coordinates information between customers and the supply chain while looking for solutions like BOM management and drop-in replacements.

 

Kelly shares how Spirit's new AI automated reporting A.L.I.C.E. provides real-time data to customers with order status, expected delivery dates and more.

 

Have you met A.L.I.C.E. yet? Learn more about Spirit's reporting AI on our team page.

Inventory Management Trends: Above and Beyond SMI after Allocation

As an authorized distributor, Spirit has supported some award-winning SMI programs over the years, but Director of Technical Sales Sean Macdonald covers the major supply chain changes and service shifts we've seen in the past 5 years.

 

Supplier-Managed Inventory (SMI) has typically looked at materials forecasts and ordering in advance to make sure parts are available when you need them on the assembly line. But with allocation, supply chain disruptions, and inflation, Spirit has been able to adjust ordering and inventory services to:

 

1. Secure the product pipeline
2. Guarantee pricing amid inflation and increases
3. Manage inventory long-term

 

With circuit card assembly (CCA), destructive physical analysis (DPA), BGA reballing, lead trim and form, and many other value-added services in-house, product can be inventoried well in advance with predictable pricing and ready-for-use delivery.

 

For more information about our services, visit SpiritElectronics.com/services.

DPA & Construction Analysis: Spirit Electronics Acquires Insight Analytical Labs

CEO Marti McCurdy and VP Zef Malik share the news that Spirit Electronics has acquired Insight Analytical Labs in Colorado Springs, adding the IAL team and services under the Spirit full-turnkey umbrella.

 

The move adds Destructive Physical Analysis (DPA) and broader construction and device analysis capabilities, crucial services in the military-aerospace industry. Not only does the team perform DPA to MIL standards, but they bring 30+ years of process and experience to Spirit Electronics.

 

Marti & Zef discuss the roadmap and positioning of DPA and device analysis, as well as how Spirit's testing services will address supply chain bottlenecks in the industry.

 

Learn more about the IAL acquisition and DPA services at SpiritElectronics.com/device-analytical-services.

Small Business Banking for Growth and AZ Economic Trends with Gary Naquin

Marti shares her three MVPs as a small business CEO: her attorney, her CPA and her banker. In this episode, Marti talks small business banking with Gary Naquin, Senior Vice President of Corporate Banking at MidFirst.

 

Gary shares his outlook about bank stability, inflation and economic influences currently shaping the future of the economy in Arizona and the Phoenix Metro area.

 

Spirit Electronics is a veteran-owned, woman-owned small business. In the past 5 years, we have grown significantly in revenue, team and facility. Learn more about our corporate story here. For more about corporate banking with MidFirst, visit MidFirst.com/business.

ASIC Qualification & Radiation Testing with Triad Semiconductor’s Jim Kemerling

Jim Kemerling, Founder and Chief Technology Officer at Triad Semiconductor, joins Marti for an episode about Triad's analog and mixed-signal ASICs and the process of qualifying them for radiation and harsh environments. Triad Semiconductor specializes in analog and mixed-signal ASICs. Marti and Jim discuss Triad's via-configurable arrays that offer flexibility in programming.

 

You can find out more about Spirit Electronics' ASIC and foundry services at spiritelectronics.com/services/asic.

EPC’s Progress in GaN Reliability in RadHard and New Space Applications

In this episode, Marti chats with EPC's CEO Alex Lidow and Marketing Director Renee Yawger about the progress of GaN. They discuss GaN's performance under high radiation as well as the extensive testing, failure modes and device lifespan detailed in EPC's Phase 15 reliability report.

 

With the full potential of GaN still to be explored and new EPC products releasing frequently, including new half-bridge drivers, low-side drivers and full power stage, GaN is especially useful in New Space and commercial space applications.

 

Spirit Electronics is an authorized distributor for EPC GaN products. Find out more at SpiritElectronics.com.

Brain Tumor Awareness Month with Catherine Ivy & the Ivy Brain Tumor Center

May is Brain Tumor Awareness Month, and Catherine Ivy joins Marti to share her story and the Ivy Brain Tumor Center's work toward effective brain tumor treatment.

 

Catherine Ivy is the founder of the Ben & Catherine Ivy Foundation and the Ivy Brain Tumor Center at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, AZ. The Ivy Brain Tumor Center has pioneered Phase 0 Clinical Trials to redesign the process around researching effective treatment for brain tumors.

 

Catherine shares the story of her husband's diagnosis and the devastating discovery that treatment was limited and challenging. The Ivy Brain Tumor Center Phase 0 Clinical Trial program is accelerating the timeline.

 

This informational and moving episode is about spreading awareness. For more resources and information, visit the Ivy Brain Tumor Center awareness month page. To help further the cause, the Ivy Center is hosting their annual Dine & Donate program throughout May.

Sustainability Ideas for Small Business in Aerospace & Defense

In celebration of Earth Day 2023, Spirit is highlighting all of the ways that we have been pursuing sustainable operations. Even as a small business, we believe that every little action adds up.

 

Green-minded Director of Technical Sales Sean Macdonald joins Marti for this episode on Spirit's Sustainable small business activities. From growing and harvesting an employee garden to automating our facility and composting paper towels, listen for ideas on how even small changes can support a sustainable supply chain and team well-being.

 

For more about Spirit's sustainability program, visit our sustainability page. Follow us on LinkedIn as we celebrate EarthDay.

Bonus Episode with Spirit Gives: Basket Gifting Fundraiser

In this bonus episode, Marti & Alyssa talk about the ongoing Spirit Gives Foundation basket fundraiser. Donations allow us to hold community building events and support local children year-round.

 

Spirit Gives has the perfect gift for your spring holiday. Whether it's Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day, graduation, teacher appreciation or your own special occasion, Spirit Gives is offering high-end pampering gifts baskets in appreciation for donations. You can preview baskets and donate today at https://spiritgives.org/form/.

ASIC Dive: How to Maximize Time to Market and Program Cost with ASIC Test Programs

Zef Malik returns for an ASIC dive discussing the process and benefits to electrical test programs for ASICs. With the design access and knowledge in already part of an ASIC program, testing and qualifying an ASIC can quickly deliver ASIC devices ready-to-use with reliability.

 

Listen to Zef and Marti discuss:

 

(2:24) Benchmarking an ASIC

(6:01) The System on a Chip Market

(7:10) How ASIC Electrical Test Fits in the Full-Turnkey Screen & Qual

(11:00) Burn-In, Qualification Challenges, and Simplifying Test Programs

(14:00) Cost Improvement with ASIC Testing and Wafer-Level Test

(16:00) Product Roadmap and the Return of US Manufacturing

 

For more info about ASIC management through Spirit Electronics, visit spiritelectronics.com/services/asic.