I was in Chicago this week, where the weather went from sunny and 45° F on the day I arrived to snow and ice by the next morning. As a California/Arizona native, let’s just say I love the look of snow much more than I love driving in it.  Still, I am grateful to have been part of some genuinely fun teambuilding with my colleagues at the Global Electronics Association. My must-reads for this week are a diverse grouping of articles and columns, ranging from printed electronics and additive manufacturing to a comprehensive overview of the European EMS and PCB markets to marketing wisdom and, finally, a book to help you reach your full potential, personally and professionally.

Global sourcing offers companies significant advantages in the form of lower costs, access to specialized skills, and extended market reach. But those benefits come with critical responsibilities. Ensuring that suppliers meet legal, ethical, and environmental standards is no longer optional. It is a core business necessity. This is where supplier audits play a pivotal role.

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) illustrate the risk of globally dispersed electronics supply chains. But they also offer an opportunity for the U.S. to reimagine World War II’s “freedom’s forge” by building domestic electronics and component manufacturing that is hardwired for agility, speed, scalability and resilience.