Making the best electronic devices means sourcing from top distributors of electronic components. While a worthwhile product is greater than the sum of its parts, high-quality building blocks are essential.
The reliability of a component itself is not the only factor in choosing a supplier, either. Organizations should also consider supply chain concerns, sustainability and the ease of working with a given partner to achieve their unique goals. With that in mind, here are 10 of the best electronic components providers working today.
1. Suntsu Electronics
Irvine, California-based Suntsu Electronics is the best choice of parts supplier for many electronics companies. The brand has been in business for more than 20 years, in which time it has served over 10,000 clients with its stock of over 75,000 products.
Suntsu is ISO 9001-certified, demonstrating a strong commitment to quality assurance. It also works with over 90 leading manufacturers to provide a wide range of components to serve different projects. Direct technical support from these organizations, bill of materials analysis and extensive supply chain solutions further amplify its ability to serve varying needs.
2. Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments (TI) is another one of the best electronic components providers in the U.S. While it may be most well-known to some as a calculator manufacturer, it’s grown to become a premier semiconductor supplier.
Many of TI’s benefits stem from its sheer scale. The company offers an impressive variety of readily available parts and can ship them across the globe in a matter of days. Such a large international presence also justifies low prices on many components. A distributor like Suntsu may provide components from a greater range of companies, but it’s hard to overlook TI’s advantages as a single supplier.
3. OMRON Corp.
Some of the best providers of electronic components reside outside the U.S. OMRON Corp. — based in Kyoto, Japan — is a prime example.
OMRON specializes in cutting-edge sensors and control systems, especially for automation and health care applications. Internet of Things (IoT) developers may find such solutions particularly valuable. While some manufacturers may prefer regional suppliers, OMRON maintains a vast global network to reduce supply chain disruption. A commitment to sustainability and fair work practices further reduces related concerns.
4. WPG Electronics
WPG Electronics is another strong international option. The Taipei-based company is the largest electronics component distributor in Asia by revenue. While a supplier’s size should not be the only consideration, such scale does mean a considerable volume of products and a reliable global presence to aid the supply chain.
Semiconductor components make up most of WPG’s inventory, though the company’s parts can serve other purposes, too. Despite its size, the list of available products can be challenging to sort through compared to alternatives like TI, but this may not prove an issue for some organizations.
5. RS Group
U.S. manufacturers may prefer to source from domestic suppliers to ease logistics concerns. In these cases, RS Group — formerly Allied Electronics and Automation — is a promising alternative to international giants like OMRON and WPG.
RS focuses on the industrial equipment market. Its products span from simple mechanical parts to complex control systems and programming tools to meet various use cases. Unlike some others on this list, RS Group is purely a distributor, not a manufacturer. That has the advantage of providing a greater range of products for price and application flexibility, but it may produce less consistency in quality.
6. DigiKey
DigiKey is another domestic option for the top electronic components provider. Like RS Group, DigiKey is a distributor, not a manufacturer. This setup lets it focus on building agile logistics solutions to provide needed parts in minimal time.
DigiKey stocks close to 2 million products at any given time, enabling it to ship most orders within the same day. These components come from thousands of suppliers and go out to over 180 countries, making DigiKey a reliable source for organizations across the globe.
7. Avnet
Avnet is another top electronic components distributor. The Phoenix, Arizona-based supplier has been in the industry for decades, giving it extensive experience in sourcing optimal parts and providing clients with support for obtaining and integrating them.
A focus on supply chain management helps Avnet deliver components to its customers on time and in good condition despite ongoing challenges. The company also offers design support services to make it easier to find a part and build a device around it. Such offerings have led it to become Arizona’s top Fortune 500 company for all but two years since 1998.
8. Arrow Electronics
Arrow Electronics follows a similar business model. The distributor focuses on helping clients design systems around their available components while streamlining their supply chains for better operational efficiency.
While Arrow does not have the largest list of partnered manufacturers, it still maintains relations with many top providers — including OMRON and Texas Instruments. It also emphasized environmental sustainability, making it an ideal choice for companies aiming to reduce their Scope 2 and 3 emissions.
9. Mouser Electronics
Manufacturers looking for a larger selection may consider Mouser Electronics. Despite not having as large of an international presence, Mouser has one of the most extensive manufacturing partner lists in this ranking. The volume alone is enough to qualify it as one of the top distributors of electronic components.
Mouser has stressed automation and tech adoption in its warehouse to enable greater supply chain agility. It also provides technical support resources, though such help is not quite as extensive as that of other alternatives.
10. Analog Devices
Analog Devices Inc. (ADI) rounds out the list of top electronic components providers. Unlike many others, ADI manufactures its own parts, specializing in communications, power management and data processing technologies.
ADI does not have as vast an inventory as alternatives like Suntsu, TI or Mouser, but what it does offer is high quality. It also maintains a hybrid manufacturing and supply chain model to avoid single dependencies and prevent logistics disruptions.
Source From the Top Electronic Components Providers
Knowing the top distributors of electronic components is the first step to building a better device. Once companies understand their options, they can make more informed decisions about their supply chains and product designs. While these 10 providers may not be the only suppliers available today, they are among the best, making them an ideal place to start.
