The Amp Hour Electronics Podcast #699 – CircuitHub, 12 Years Later with Andrew Seddon
Aug 1, 2025
Andrew Seddon, the Founder and CEO of CircuitHub, revisits the podcast after 12 years to discuss the evolution of electronics manufacturing. They cover the necessity of adapting to diverse component selections and the challenges of maintaining efficient SKU stockpiles. Seddon humorously compares component distributors to grocery stores while exploring innovative practices like AI integration and quick-turn PCB design. He also highlights the impact of rising tariffs on manufacturing choices, particularly in the U.S., which is pushing companies to explore lower-cost areas.
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Episode notes
CircuitHub's Origin Story
- CircuitHub started as a crowdsourced EDA parts library but shifted to manufacturing due to user demand.
- Their partnership with Worthington Assembly was facilitated through podcast connections and grew over years.
Standard Parts Library Reality
- Trying to force engineers to adopt a common library of 2000 parts failed; designers want to use varied parts.
- CircuitHub now stocks about 50,000 SKUs to efficiently handle diverse parts needs in-house.
Stocking Parts Reduces Attrition Risk
- Having 50,000 parts in stock mainly speeds assembly by preloading machines and reducing part attrition risk.
- Attrition isn't lost parts spraying but the risk of running out of one part stopping shipment.
