Last year, a flood at a hard disk drive manufacturing facility in Thailand disrupted PC manufacturing in China. However, while surging sales of smartphones have been driving the market, pricing for certain types of memories, consumer demand for navigation applications and location-based services have rapidly increased. And these events according to research firm IHS (News - Alert) iSuppli all illustrate how tightly interconnected the global technology business has become. It underscores how critical it is for companies at all nodes of the industry to arm themselves with end-to-end technology value chain insight, according to the company.

To help companies understand how the complex interrelations of the global technology business are affecting their businesses, IHS iSuppli will be hosting a webcast event entitled, “From Subscriber to Silicon: Why End-to-End Technology Value Chain Insight is Critical to Your Supply Chain Survival.” This webcast is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, May 15 at 8 a.m. Pacific Time. The even will be moderated by Barry Hochfelder, editorof Supply & Demand Chain Executive magazine and will feature IHS experts Robert Braverman, senior director, product management for HIS, as well as Tom Morrod, senior analyst, head of TV technology for IHS.

In a statement, Morrod commented, “It´s a brave new world where ubiquitous technology has triggered an explosion in disruptive innovations, shifting consumer behaviors and inducing volatile swings in supply and demand that reverberate throughout all technology-consuming markets. Social gaming, digital ebooks, Internet radio, streaming video, smart appliances and mobile apps all reflect the insatiable demand from end consumers who want what they want, where they want it and in any way they can get it. Throughout the value chain, from semiconductor and display manufacturers to network operators, everyone is fiercely competing to own the subscribers and devices that dictate winners and losers in this ever-changing, connected world.  As the downstream battle for subscribers intensifies, the upstream battle is just as fierce for the silicon, intellectual property and raw materials that are increasingly used within automotive, medical, industrial, and other sectors.”

Likewise, Braverman added, “While most savvy organizations understand the interconnected nature of the supply chain, many also lack a very fundamental grasp of the issues that will impact them the most. Every day, multimillion-dollar strategic investments are made on raw materials, R&D, manufacturing capacity, capital equipment, sales and marketing, channel development and fulfillment networks that all hinge upon the very real interdependencies of each node in the end-to-end technology value chain. A very weak bond links many companies to first-tier suppliers and customers. Meanwhile, disasters like the Thailand floods or Japan crisis can have devastating consequences to companies’ manufacturing and consumption chains. For players throughout the technology business, the major question is: How can cost and risk be minimized while maximizing profitability by improving insight into the end-to-end technology value chain?”

Through the not-to-miss session, Braverman and Morrod will share their insights into some of the top issues impacting technology, media, and telecommunications value chains. They also will discuss key developments and how they impact set-top boxes, software platforms, mobile devices, network operators, and chip production. Furthermore, both will highlight the importance of having access to supply chain intelligence that spans from subscribers to silicon by addressing topics such as:

• How do technology adoption trends impact the entire supply chain?
• Why are consumers having such a major impact on operator strategies?
• What future opportunities are shaping today´s markets for raw materials, semiconductors, and displays?
•  How are technology trends like higher-resolution displays and touch screens driving the supply chain?
• How are pay-TV, smart technology, and other businesses disrupting adjacent markets?
• Who are the winners and losers, and why should you care?