The X-Files – European Electronics in Transition

is a monthly series that investigates the most pressing challenges facing Europe’s electronics industry.
Each edition examines the forces behind rising complexity, strained engineering resources, supply chain constraints, and shifting market demands.
By uncovering the hidden causes and decision patterns behind these challenges, the series demystifies how companies can move from reactive problem-solving to deliberate, sustainable transformation – turning uncertainty into clarity and direction.

Beyond decoding, the series focuses on solutions.
It highlights practical strategies to regain control over product complexity, align development and manufacturing, design resilient architectures, and build scalable platforms suited to European supply chain realities.
Rather than quick fixes, The X-Files reveals structured, long-term approaches that help electronics companies make better decisions, create momentum, and shape their next phase with intent.

In electronics, complexity is normal.
What matters is whether it’s understood — or just accepted.

Many companies aren’t failing because of technology gaps,
but because critical knowledge is scattered:

• Undocumented design decisions
• Legacy processes no one questions anymore
• Interfaces between development, production, and supply chain that “just evolved”

The result?
Decisions slow down. Costs creep up. Innovation stalls — quietly.

February Insight

Cracking the code starts with making the invisible explicit.

How to crack the code

Focus on what actually moves the needle in daily business:

• Document core design rules and product architectures
• Standardize interfaces between engineering, manufacturing, and partners
• Translate tribal knowledge into processes others can use and scale

When engineering logic becomes transparent, speed, quality, and resilience follow naturally.

Every electronics company reaches a moment where continuing “as before” quietly becomes the biggest risk.

Not a sudden collapse.
But rising complexity, stretched engineering teams, growing variants, fragile supply chains.
The warning signs are there — even if they’re easy to ignore.

X marks the turning point.
The point where decisions stop being postponed and direction matters more than speed.

January Insight

Turning points in electronics manufacturing are rarely about technology alone — they’re about focus and architecture.

Practical steps to create momentum

• Re-evaluate product complexity: reduce variants that drain engineering capacity
• Align development, sourcing, and manufacturing early — not sequentially
• Design products with European supply chain realities in mind
• Replace short-term fixes with scalable platform decisions

Transformation doesn’t start with disruption.
It starts with choosing where to go next — deliberately.