The EMS sector is of increasing interest to investment banks and private equity investors. Simon Majer looks at the EMS industry from an investment banking perspective and discusses the strategic considerations and key differentiators.

The presentation will begin with an "outside-in" analysis highlighting the current state and growth trends in the global EMS market as well as specific end markets such as automotive, medical technology and renewable energy. 

It also focuses on the investment criteria and differentiators that investors consider when evaluating EMS companies. These include profitability, capital intensity, market fragmentation and the differentiation between high-mix-low-volume (HMLV) and low-mix-high-volume (LMHV) business models. The presentation shows how investors can identify and realize growth potential by creating additional value, e.g. through margin optimization, repositioning and strategic acquisitions.

Finally, the importance of the positioning of an EMS company for its market value is explained. Case studies are used to illustrate how an increased company value can be achieved through targeted measures. Risks such as high inventories and customer concentration are also discussed in order to provide a holistic view of the challenges and opportunities in the EMS industry.

For three years, materials procurement has dominated day-to-day business in EMS companies. At the end of 2023, stock levels were higher than ever and for around a year and a half, EMS companies have been busy reducing their excessively high inventories. There is now a risk that they will focus on the issues that have been left unaddressed during this time and forget about the continuous improvement process.

Industry expert Michael Künsebeck addresses the critical questions: What have we learned from this period? And how do we prepare for future material shortages? 

The presentation will shed light on how EMS can not only overcome crises by implementing effective strategies, but also benefit from them in the long term. It emphasizes the importance of proactive materials management in order to make day-to-day operations efficient and avoid repeating previous mistakes. 

The presentation highlights key aspects of marketing and sales that help medium-sized EMS companies to sustainably assert themselves in a dynamic market environment.

Sales in the EMS business is fundamentally different from selling products. EMS companies sell services and build up business relationships over many years.  A precise knowledge of their own market, their direct competitors and their own competitive advantages is essential here. In the last 3 years in particular, sales have slipped into insignificance in terms of acquiring new customers, with sufficient orders on hand. Now the situation is changing and many EMS companies are desperately looking for orders. 

Industry expert Matthias Holsten provides insights into effective strategies for acquiring new customers and standing out from the competition.

In modern production facilities, networked pick-and-place machines ensure smooth communication. In contrast, the communication channel between buyers and manufacturers often remains unchanged and outdated. Email is still the preferred channel to transfer data and information in the electronics supply chain. 

While production machines exchange structured information via specialized interfaces, human communication lacks this efficiency.

This presentation will highlight the challenges and solutions to move away from unstructured emails. How can requests and requirements from buyers and developers be structured? What incentives are there to use alternative communication channels? And what advantages do these offer in the context of electronics development?

Find out why the current status quo needs to be rethought and how customer portals as structured communication platforms can make a decisive contribution to increasing efficiency in digital supply chains.

The increasing unpredictability of markets and supply chains as well as geopolitical, economic and ecological uncertainties require new corporate planning tools.

Whether "just" budget planning for the following year or a long-term strategic consideration: Modern tools that use multiple scenarios instead of linear projections are essential in order to respond adequately to these dynamics. 

Thinking through different scenarios and defining one's own tipping points helps to generate knowledge and is part of modern risk management. The number of so-called black swans, i.e. unplannable and unpredictable singular events, will continue to increase. 

The presentation shows how this can be dealt with confidently both at the planning level and in individual mental processing. 

Following a management buy-out and with the support of Sym, Mayerhofer Elektronik GmbH has undergone a comprehensive strategic realignment. The presentation illustrates the company's key strategies and experiences in the course of its digital transformation and the implementation of an agile corporate culture.

Particular attention is paid to methods such as Kanban, waterfall and Scrum, which generate enthusiasm both internally and externally and are complemented by a philosophical approach to HR management.

The presentation also highlights the commitment to sustainability, highlighted by the use of GreenTin+, a high-purity, fully recycled tin, as well as the integration into the Symworking Ecosystem, which contributes to environmental and social responsibility. ISO 9001 and 14001 certifications also underline the company's quality and environmental awareness.

The company's CEO provides insights into the challenges and solutions for ensuring sustainable electronic components and establishing a circular economy. Collaboration with partners such as Feinhütte Halsbrücke and other companies from the Symworking Ecosystem play a key role here. The presentation serves as an inspiration and guide for EMS companies that also want to work towards a sustainable, digital and agile future.

Sustainability and climate protection are increasingly shaping the public and economic agenda. Proactive environmental management offers small and medium-sized electronics manufacturers the opportunity to secure both ecological and economic advantages in the long term.

The presentation outlines the legal obligations of producers in the disposal and recycling of production waste as well as the resulting opportunities for the company and shows practical measures and innovative approaches to effectively minimize environmental impact while promoting sustainability.

Beyond the current regulations and their application in practice, the presentation will provide insights into how entrepreneurs can use these challenges as a means of differentiation in the market. Participants will learn how correct labeling, separation and shipment of waste not only complies with regulations, but also strengthens the position as a sustainable company.

The Manufacturing Execution System (MES) is at the heart of manufacturing automation and digital transformation. However, the investment in time and money will be most productive if you select the system that is right for your operation today and tomorrow. This decision-making process is critical because it impacts the entire organization, which expects benefits that exceed its investment. A misstep in the selection of an MES can lead to significant financial losses affecting all stakeholders, including the company, its suppliers and implementation partners. 

There are several factors to consider when selecting and implementing the right MES tailored to SMT processes: Choosing among digital transformation options, developing a selection strategy, organizing for success, setting realistic expectations, capturing the right requirements, developing an implementation roadmap and evaluating the return on investment. 

The presentation will provide a practical guide to help decision makers select the right MES and ecosystem of vendors and partners for their specific needs without committing to a specific product offering.

The EMS industry is facing two major challenges: maintaining competitiveness and the shortage of skilled workers. Customer demands for fast delivery and a flexible response to order changes are increasing, while materials management is becoming ever more complex. These developments threaten quality and on-time delivery, the core values of EMS.

In many work systems, labor is used inefficiently because priorities are unclear. We discuss how value management makes work processes visible and optimizable, which increases productivity, relieves employees and reduces the need for new positions in certain areas.

In this presentation, Fabian Biebl, organizational developer, and Carolin Fiechter, entrepreneur, will show you how you can look at your organization from a new perspective and identify concrete starting points to both increase competitiveness and effectively manage employee workload. Seize the opportunity for a win-win situation that will secure your future viability.