FROM THE FIELD TO THE FRONTLINE
Erik Drown on Strategic Sourcing, Resilience, and the Future of Supply Chains
With a career journey that began on the baseball field and pivoted into global sourcing, Erik Drown brings a rare blend of focus, adaptability, and strategic thinking to his role as Lead Global Sourcing Director at Select Technology Inc. Over the years, he has played a critical role in shaping the company’s sourcing strategy, building resilient supply networks, strengthening supplier relationships, and navigating industry challenges with agility and foresight.
In this feature, Erik shares his perspectives on obsolescence management, risk mitigation, supplier collaboration, and the role of technology in modern sourcing. He also outlines his forward-looking vision for Select Technology’s sourcing function, including the opportunities emerging from innovation and AI. For Erik, success lies not in doing everything alone but in building the right partnerships, embracing change, and staying relentlessly focused on delivering customer value.
Professional Journey
Can you share your career path and what led you to your current role as Lead Global Sourcing Director at Select Technology Inc.?
That’s a fantastic question, and it comes with a pretty interesting answer.
For a long time, I wasn’t particularly interested in what you might call a “real-world” career. I was laser-focused on my childhood dream of becoming a professional baseball player. I even got the chance to pursue that dream when I was drafted, which felt like the culmination of everything I had worked toward. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, I couldn’t take that dream as far as I had hoped.
Once baseball was no longer in the picture, I knew it was time to channel my energy into something else. I turned to my degree in management and found myself at Select Technology, diving headfirst into the fascinating world of electronics. What began as a shift in direction quickly turned into something far more fulfilling, a career I never expected, but one I’ve come to truly embrace.
Role at Select Technology
How does your role contribute to Select Technology’s mission of providing full-service solutions for electronic component needs?
My role is a critical part of the supply chain, as I manage the day-to-day communication and coordination with both our OEM and CEM partners. I’m responsible for developing tailored onboarding and execution plans for each customer, because no two supply chains operate the same way. Each client has unique procurement requirements, whether it’s component testing standards, date code or country-of-origin restrictions, specialised packaging, mineral compliance, or navigating tariffs. My job is to manage all these variables efficiently and proactively, ensuring the process is seamless for the customer. Especially during time-sensitive situations, I aim to simplify the complexity so their teams can stay focused on production without added stress.
Obsolescence and EOL Management
Select Technology emphasises proactive approaches to obsolescence and end-of-life (EOL) component management. Can you elaborate on the O.E.M. program and how it benefits your clients?
Part of my role when working with OEMs and their contractors is to build strong relationships across both ends of their supply chain. We’re not just supporting procurement, we’re also involved in reverse logistics. This gives us access to our OEM partners’ global inventory, including parts that may be endof-life (EOL) or obsolete from the manufacturer’s perspective. That opens the door for us to source components that are no longer in production but are still critical for ongoing builds.
This capability allows our customers to avoid costly and time consuming boards. In industries like medical, aerospace, and defense, where older products remain in use and essential, our support can even extend to repair or redesign efforts. It’s a very strategic approach to sourcing hard-to-find parts while also mitigating the risk of counterfeit components entering the supply chain.
Supplier Relationship Management
What strategies do you employ to build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers, ensuring they meet Select Technology’s quality standards?
This is another great question, and one that truly sets us apart from many of our competitors. At Select Technology, we live by the motto: “Quality is always first.” We’ve found that continually reinvesting in our quality standards has been a key factor in our success over the past 25+ years in the industry.
Maintaining strong relationships, whether with customers or suppliers, takes consistent effort and flexibility. We’ve always leaned more toward the ‘give’ side of the equation, because we recognise that our customers’ quality expectations are constantly evolving. To maintain strong, long-term partnerships, we adapt right alongside them.
On the supplier side, we hold the same high standards. Any supplier that wants to work with us must meet strict quality criteria to even be considered for our Approved Vendor List (AVL).
Ultimately, staying competitive and relevant in this space means understanding the changing demands on both the sourcing and supply sides, and ensuring we’re always evolving with them to keep our supply chain thriving.
Risk Management in Sourcing
How do you identify and mitigate risks within the sourcing process, especially considering the volatility of the electronic components market?
This really comes down to how we carefully vet and select our vendors. We follow a rigorous qualification process and only work with suppliers who meet strict quality designations. We don’t take unnecessary risks when it comes to the parts we procure, because from a business standpoint, the potential downside simply isn’t worth it.
Another key advantage we have is our global network of trusted component testing partners. If a part ever raises concerns during our internal QC process, we can quickly route it through one of our accredited testing facilities. These partners are highly trained to test components to the exact standards required by our customers, which significantly reduces risk.
Combining our in-house quality control with these trusted third-party relationships gives us a major edge, especially when dealing with market volatility, like what we experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s that layered approach to quality and risk management that really sets us apart.
Technological Integration
In what ways has technology been integrated into your sourcing processes to enhance efficiency and transparency at Select Technology?
At Select Technology, we’ve integrated technology into every layer of our sourcing process to boost both efficiency and transparency. We use real-time inventory tracking and global sourcing tools to quickly assess availability, lead times, and pricing across regions, which helps streamline decisionmaking.
Our vendor vetting process is also supported by digital platforms that track supplier certifications, performance metrics, and compliance documentation. This ensures that only high-quality, reliable vendors are added to our Approved Vendor List (AVL).
In terms of quality control, we’ve partnered with accredited testing labs that use advanced inspection technologies. These partnerships, combined with our internal QC processes, allow us to thoroughly verify components and significantly reduce the risk of counterfeit or non-conforming parts.
Technology has become essential in helping us stay agile, especially in a market where conditions can change quickly. It enables us to make informed decisions faster and maintain the high standards our customers expect.
Adapting to Market Changes
How does your team stay agile and responsive to market fluctuations and global supply chain disruptions?
As a team, one of our key responsibilities is staying closely attuned to which types of parts are moving in the market, as well as monitoring factory lead times and overall production conditions. The electronics market is inherently cyclical, shifting from periods of strong demand to slower, downmarket phases. While it’s not an exact science, our team’s close connection to the ground level allows us to identify early indicators of supply chain changes on a global scale.
We also maintain strong relationships with manufacturers, which gives us access to accurate, realtime data on stock levels versus lead times. This insight helps us understand which components are trending and which may be slowing down.
When unexpected disruptions occur, such as natural disasters, we immediately assess which product categories are impacted and proactively inform our customers about potential risks. That kind of responsiveness helps them make informed decisions and avoid production delays.
Team Development and Training
What measures are in place to ensure your sourcing team remains skilled and knowledgeable about the latest industry trends and best practices?
Our team is committed to staying as informed and adaptable as possible, because we know that a deep understanding of our customers’ needs is key to delivering real value. We foster a collaborative environment where open communication is constant, whether we’re sharing customer feedback, discussing market trends, or comparing lead times. That kind of teamwork keeps everyone aligned and sharp.
We also make it a priority to stay educated on the broader market by regularly reading industry publications and reports. This helps us anticipate shifts in demand and proactively support our customers.
From a leadership standpoint, we focus on continuous improvement through internal audits and performance reviews. These processes help us identify areas where we can enhance efficiency, refine execution, and ultimately strengthen our service. In such a fast-moving industry, adaptability is essential. By working as a cohesive team and staying close to both the market and our customers, we’re able to pivot quickly and lead with confidence.
Partnerships and Collaborations
Select Technology aims to be a long-term partner throughout the supply chain cycle. Can you discuss how collaborations with core partners have enhanced your service offerings?
I’m a strong believer that if you want to be the best, you need a village, both internally and externally. That’s why we’ve built close partnerships with people and organisations that share our core values and can be trusted to deliver. No one can be an expert at everything, and I don’t think success comes from trying to do it all alone.
We’re intentional about outsourcing tasks where others have deeper expertise. I always say, “If you want something done right the first time, give it to the person best equipped to do it.” In business, that often means putting ego aside and recognising that collaboration leads to better outcomes.
This may not always be the most streamlined approach on paper, but it consistently delivers the best results, because in the end, what matters most is meeting our customers’ needs and helping them move forward with confidence.
Future Outlook for Sourcing at Select Technology
Looking ahead, what are your key objectives for advancing the sourcing function at Select Technology, particularly concerning innovation and sustainability?
Like any organisation, our goal is growth, but achieving that on the sourcing side requires constant adaptability. The pace of change, especially with the rise of AI-driven platforms, has accelerated significantly. While some see this as a threat, I believe it’s an opportunity. Embracing technology instead of resisting it allows us to improve processes across the entire supply chain, from procurement to quality control.
At Select Technology, we don’t shy away from change. We’re focused on finding how innovation fits our space and using it to create smarter, more efficient solutions for both our customers and suppliers. The industry will continue to evolve, and it’s up to us to evolve with it, or risk falling behind. We’re committed to staying ahead by pushing our limits, exploring new tools, and always looking for ways to bring more value to our partnerships.
Select Technology is the preferred global stocking distributor, leading the way by providing a full service solution for your component needs. Our goal is to be your long term partner through the entire supply chain cycle, from initial demand through final asset recovery. Whatever your needs are, whenever your needs are, we are there. Our highly trained staff make themselves available to our partners 24/7.
Erik Drown Lead Global Sourcing Director