The debut of the iPhone 6 wasn't just a big moment for Apple. It marked a major event for manufacturers in Taiwan and elsewhere in Asia that make the components for the device.

The competitive pressure on members of the global electronics sector has never been greater. While electronics OEMs recognize that their supply chains represent a significant opportunity to gain efficiencies, reduce cost and boost market share, many struggle to take their supply chain process improvement efforts beyond the proverbial low-hanging fruit.

With advancing technology and the short electronic product lifecycles that come with these innovations, the electronics industry is ever-evolving and changing to meet the needs of consumers globally. While there are a number of best practices to follow and supply chain trends to be aware of when planning for the product development and launches of the next phone, computer, tablet or other electronics device, there are four that top the list, according to the Change in the (Supply) Chain survey that IDC Manufacturing Insights conducts each year on behalf of UPS.

Widely divergent lifecycles for electronics products are creating increasing demand for obsolete and end-of-life components, which sometimes end up being sourced from the gray market. Let's look in detail why that is happening and how product lifecycles are creating a gap in the electronic components supply chain that is in danger of being filled by counterfeit components.

Seasonally adjusted sales at U.S. electronics and appliance stores were $8.215bn in April 2013, up from $8.180 in April 2012 and up from $8.152 in March 2013.