Data is only useful when it changes your next move. During my recent 'on location' session with Global Electronics Associates, I sat down with Chris Mitchell, Vice President of Global Government Relations, to unpack how a new, global industry intelligence program is turning raw numbers into decisions that matter for EMS leaders, OEMs, and policymakers. From Washington to Brussels and beyond, the focus is on credible, high-integrity data that can be sliced by sector, region, and supply chain layer—so leaders can act with speed and confidence.

We dig into why the market feels like it is at an inflection point: EV growth is reshaping power electronics, AI hardware is driving demand for advanced boards and thermal solutions, and supply chains are being rewired for resilience and yield. Chris explains the build-out of dedicated data leads across regions, the push for stronger partnerships, and the shift from static annual reports to self-serve analytics. The goal is clear: let members interrogate the dataset, surface the “so what,” and back strategic choices—from capacity bets to localization—with evidence.

Advocacy comes alive when policy meets proof. We explore how hard data informs briefings for governments, helping align on supply chain priorities, incentives, and workforce needs. It’s a two-way street: members gain foresight on policy directions and access to decision-makers, while policymakers gain ground truth on EMS capabilities, quality demands, and bottlenecks. Throughout, we highlight the evolving role of EMS as strategic innovation drivers—partners who manage complexity, lift yields, and enable brands to scale globally without sacrificing reliability.

If you’re navigating electronics manufacturing, this conversation brings clarity on where momentum is building, how to measure it, and how to act on it. Subscribe, share with a colleague who lives in spreadsheets, and leave a review with the one question you’d ask a global industry dataset.

EMS@C-Level is hosted by global inspection leaders Koh Young (https://www.kohyoung.com) and Global Electronics Association (https://www.electronics.org)

You can see video versions of all of the EMS@C-Level pods on our YouTube playlist.