The ongoing downturn is causing an upturn for distribution-demand creation-using distributor-supplied suites of engineering services to encourage product training and guidance-as suppliers rely more on distributors to encourage complete designs. "What I've seen in a number of suppliers-not universally but in a number of key supplier relationships-is maybe a greater willingness to examine the way business is being done," says Mark Larson, president of components distributor Digi-Key Corp . "These changes were occurring even before the downturn. Now, everyone is standing back, and they are seeing that success is not coming as easily or, in somerncases not at all, and it forces a re-examination. It's an interesting thing, and I think it's going to make for more creative solutions."
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