Global supply chains for electronic components are being tested to their limits due to skyrocketing demand for devices such as capacitors and integrated circuits.
A new report from the Wall Street Journal has stated that companies such as Philips, Motorola and General Electric are finding it increasingly hard to get their hands on various types of chip.
This is because many of theses components are widely needed for a range of diverse applications, including manufacturing of TVs, smartphones, new cars, healthcare equipment and washing machines.
The report cited recent iSuppli figures showing that waiting times for four common transistor types has increased from six to ten weeks last year to between 18 and 20 weeks this year.
Kimberly Morgan of chip manufacturer Texas Instruments told the news source: We are working very hard to address the issue, but demand is still high.
This comes after Semiconductor Industry Association figures from earlier this month showed that demand for semiconductors is also on the up, rising more than seven per cent in the last quarter.
