A leading electronic components distributor, now offering logistics and supply chain management services, argues that the industry is too specialized for 3PLs with only general expertise.

Companies are quick to capture savings by sourcing from low-cost countries, but they can come to regret the move if they fail to understand the risks of working with unknown and difficult-to-manage suppliers.

For many companies, after-sales activities are money in the bank as they may account for anywhere from 10 percent to 40 percent of revenue.