ARLINGTON, Va. - Electronic component orders bounced back in December 2006 after a slight dip the previous month, according to the four-to-five-week index compiled by the Electronic Components, Assemblies & Materials Association (ECA) in Arlington, Va.

The 12-month average, which compares results to the previous year, continued its slight upward movement.

“The order index movement over the last few months has been very similar to 2005,” says Bob Willis, ECA president. “Overall, 2006 was a positive, but not spectacular, year, with growth in the mid-single digits.”

A central question in 2007 is whether innovation and quality will enable electronic component manufacturers to maintain decent profit margins, or will the industry instead be dominated by slim-margin commodity products designed and manufactured in low-cost regions of the world?

The “innovation vs. commoditization” issue will be the subject of a workshop at CARTS USA 2007, the 27th annual conference for passive components, March 26-29, in Albuquerque, N.M.

The Electronic Components, Assemblies & Materials Association (ECA) represents manufacturers and producers of passive and active electronic components, component arrays and assemblies, and materials and support services.

It is a sector of the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA), representing more than 1,300 companies. ECA members benefit from a dynamic link into a network of programs and activities in areas such as business and technical information, market research trends and analysis, access to industry and government leaders, technical and education training, and others.

For more information, visit www.ec-central.org.