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.

You Can’t Build What You Can’t See

One of the most dangerous assumptions in supply chain planning is that the parts you need will be there when you need them. That someone, somewhere, is already making them. That all the tools and materials you’ll need to run a backend line — substrates, thermal compounds, packaging kits — are just one purchase order away.

But backend operations don’t work like that. Especially not in a place that hasn’t done them before.

So the first step to building a resilient ATP ecosystem in Sonora isn’t to break ground or court suppliers. It’s to map what matters — and figure out what we’re missing.

The Real Work Starts with a List

This sounds boring. It’s not.

Mapping input needs means sitting down and figuring out — in precise terms — what a backend operation actually consumes. Not in the abstract, but in SKUs, lead times, and dependencies.

What substrates do OSATs need for different packages? Which gases, compounds, and protective films are non-negotiable? What kind of thermal interface materials are used in testing? Who makes them, where are they based, and how often do they run into shortages?

This process doesn’t just populate a spreadsheet. It defines the universe of opportunity for Sonora’s manufacturing sector. It tells us what kinds of capabilities we should be building — and just as importantly, what not to chase.

Why This Matters

Every serious manufacturing strategy starts by asking: What would break us if it didn’t show up?

That’s especially true for ATP, where backend firms live and die by their ability to move fast, integrate globally, and avoid delays. Even small hiccups in the supply chain — a delayed shipment of lead frames, a shortage of traceability-compliant labels — can ripple into major production slowdowns.

It’s not just about what’s missing — it’s also about what’s overly concentrated. Many ATP-critical inputs are sourced from a handful of suppliers in Asia, creating single points of failure. Our map needs to show not only what Sonora lacks, but where North America lacks redundancy.

For Sonora, mapping ATP input needs is how we future-proof the system before it exists. It’s how we:

• Spot gaps early — before they become risks to investors.

• Identify entry points for Sonoran suppliers with transferable capabilities.

• Target high-leverage opportunities for local or regional production.

• Give global ATP firms confidence that we know what we’re doing.

And maybe most importantly, it’s how we avoid the trap of building supply chain infrastructure that looks good on paper but doesn’t match what real companies actually need.

From Map to Playbook

This mapping effort won’t just sit on a shelf. It will directly shape:

• Supplier audits

• Capability assessments

• Technical assistance programs

• Matchmaking efforts with global buyers

• Even the design of industrial parks and logistics hubs

In a world where geopolitics and supply shocks can redraw the map overnight, the regions that stay competitive are the ones who know their inputs cold — and act before others do.

If we want Sonora to become a critical backend node, we need to start by mapping its critical supply nodes. That’s not the sexy part of the story. But it’s the part that makes the rest of the story possible.

Are you a manufacturer in Sonora?

We're mapping the inputs that global ATP companies rely on — and identifying local suppliers who can step in, scale up, or adapt.

If you think your company could play a role, we want to hear from you.
Join the Supplier Mapping Effort →