EMS@C-LEVEL
As Forbes, Entrepreneur, Fast Company and SCOOP writer, Philip Stoten, continues to talk to EMS (Electronic Manufacturing Services) executives he learns more about their individual and collective experiences and their expectations for their own businesses and for the entire electronic manufacturing industry.
EMS@C-LEVEL
Crisis-Proof Manufacturing: InCap's Otto Pukk Talks Tariffs, Trade Wars and Talent in an Agile Global EMS
Amid global economic uncertainty and shifting trade policies, how do manufacturing companies navigate choppy waters? Otto Pukk, President & CEO of InCap joins us to reveal the advantages of a decentralized leadership approach during turbulent times.
"There is always some crisis and always some turbulence," Otto reflects with refreshing pragmatism. Rather than centralizing control, InCap has thrived by empowering local management teams across their global facilities. "We have excellent management teams in each unit that are experts on the local conditions and can navigate through that," he explains. This distributed leadership model has become their secret sauce in responding quickly to regional challenges without waiting for headquarters directives.
The financial results speak volumes. While many European EMS companies struggle, InCap reports strong growth and impressive EBITDA margins. Their ultra-lean headquarters—just 10 square meters in Helsinki with a team of seven—minimizes overhead costs that typically eat into profits. Looking ahead to 2025, Otto acknowledges the market hesitancy as everyone waits to see "what are the rules of the game" regarding tariffs and trade policies, but remains optimistic about growth prospects once conditions stabilize.
Perhaps most valuably, he highlights the collaborative spirit within the electronics manufacturing community, where competitors often share knowledge to solve common challenges. "It's a small, very small community actually... you don't need to be afraid to share your experience."
Ready to rethink your company's approach to global uncertainty? Listen now and discover how culture and organizational structure might be your greatest asset in unpredictable times.
EMS@C-Level Live at APEX is sponsored by global inspection leaders Koh Young (https://www.kohyoung.com) and Creative Electron (https://creativeelectron.com)
EMS@C-Level is sponsored by global inspection leaders Koh Young (https://www.kohyoung.com) and Creative Electron (https://creativeelectron.com)
You can see video versions of all of the EMS@C-Level pods on our YouTube playlist.