Visibility Is Just the Beginning
In Sonora, we’ve started mapping our supplier base — documenting who’s out there, what they offer, and how they might connect to semiconductor value chains.
But mapping is only a starting point.
If the goal is to support outsourced assembly, test, and packaging (ATP) operations, supplier visibility needs to go deeper — and last longer.
It needs to move from a static list to something dynamic and useful. It needs to become infrastructure.
From Inventory to Interface
When an ATP firm evaluates a new region, they don’t just ask who’s available.
They look for signals.
Who meets SEMI or ISO standards?
Who can support cleanroom requirements or traceability?
Who has passed audits, or is on a path toward qualification?
What documentation exists — and who’s maintaining it?
A directory that answers those questions isn’t a communications tool. It’s part of the due diligence process.
What a Platform Could Do
A public-facing supplier platform could help external firms and local actors navigate the same questions — with filters based on:
Capabilities, certifications, and sector experience
Readiness levels and infrastructure compatibility
Traceability systems, audit history, and upgrade potential
And for suppliers, it could offer a way to self-assess, benchmark, and connect to programs that support the next step in their development.
Over time, it becomes a shared interface: between local capabilities and global expectations.
A Step Toward Readiness
This kind of platform takes time. It depends on usable data, supplier engagement, and alignment with what OSATs actually look for.
But it’s a step worth taking now.
It turns early mapping into something more permanent. It starts to translate supplier intent into supplier signals.
And it reflects a simple idea:
Visibility isn’t the reward for being ready — it’s part of how regions get ready.
