Hirose President Mark Kojak’s Plan for Tariffs, AI and New Priorities After Joining Manufacturer Council

About two months ago, Mark Kojak, president of electronic component manufacturer Hirose Electric Americas, joined the Electronic Components Industry Association’s (ECIA) Manufacturer Council. The council typically includes 13 to 15 members. It provides a forum for electronic component manufacturing leaders to discuss constituent needs, set industry agendas, and oversee priorities that strengthen the authorized supply chain.

Hirose President Mark KojakHiroseThe manufacturer council is one of three that report directly to the ECIA Board of Directors and focuses on the factory side, including production standards, technology roadmaps and pricing and tariff pressures. The council also works directly with the Global Industry Practices Committee (GIPC) to build, review and roll out standardized operational guidelines.

Based in Downers Grove, Illinois, Hirose Electric Americas is a subsidiary of Japan-based Hirose Electric Co., Ltd.

These councils are structured to ensure a balanced representation across different component technologies, including semiconductor, interconnect, passive, and electro-mechanical sectors, and encompass both small and large companies. ECIA’s mission is to promote and improve the business environment for the authorized sale of electronic components by manufacturers, their distributors and independent sales representatives.

Founded in 1937, Hirose Electric specializes in connector technology with more than $1.5 billion in sales across multiple markets, including industrial equipment and automation, consumer electronics and wireless communication.

In this interview, Kojak discusses his top priorities after joining the council, including addressing the rapid advances in AI, increasingly complex supply chains, tariffs and creating sustainable growth in an increasingly complex market environment.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What would you like to make your first point of business after joining the ECIA Manufacturer Council?

Mark Kojak: My first point of business will be to strengthen collaboration between manufacturers and distribution partners to address the changing ways engineers discover, evaluate and select electronic components. Throughout my career at Texas Instruments, Arrow Electronics, Maxim Integrated, Harting and now Hirose Electric Americas, I have seen firsthand how digital engagement, data-driven decision-making, and channel partnerships are reshaping our industry.

I want the council to focus on identifying best practices that help manufacturers, distributors and manufacturer representatives work together more effectively to support customers, accelerate design activity and improve overall customer experience. As our industry faces rapid advances in AI, digital engineering tools, and increasingly complex supply chains, I believe ECIA can play a leadership role in helping the channel evolve, while maintaining the high standards of ethics, collaboration and service that have made our industry successful.

Ultimately, my goal is to create growth opportunities for all ECIA members by ensuring that our industry remains innovative, resilient and aligned around delivering greater value to customers.

What are the top priorities for your constituents?

MK: The people and organizations I represent are focused on creating sustainable growth in an increasingly complex market environment. They are looking for stronger alignment across the electronics ecosystem, from component manufacturers and channel partners to OEMs and design engineers, to improve responsiveness and reduce friction throughout the product lifecycle.

A key concern is ensuring the industry remains agile amid changing customer expectations, evolving technologies and global market uncertainty. There is also a strong desire to advance initiatives that improve visibility, forecasting accuracy and collaboration across the supply chain.

At the same time, companies want to foster innovation by making it easier for customers to access technical expertise, discover new technologies and bring products to market more efficiently and with speed.

What further actions are needed to improve the authorized supply chain?

MK: Improving the authorized supply chain requires a continued focus on transparency, accountability and collaboration across the entire ecosystem. While the electronics industry has made significant progress, more must be done to prevent unauthorized channels from entering the market, particularly during periods of supply constraint.

I believe we should strengthen data sharing between manufacturers and authorized distributors, improve traceability throughout the product lifecycle, and accelerate the adoption of digital tools that help customers verify product authenticity and sourcing.

In addition, the industry needs to better educate customers on the long-term risks of purchasing from unauthorized sources. Counterfeit components, quality concerns, lack of warranty support and compliance risks can have serious consequences for our customers, especially in automotive, medical, industrial, and aerospace applications.

I want to support initiatives that promote the value of the authorized channel, establish best practices for supply chain integrity and encourage closer collaboration among manufacturers, distributors and customers to ensure a secure, reliable and resilient level of supply.

How have tariff pressures impacted electronic component manufacturers? What strategies have helped mitigate pricing pressures?

MK: Tariff pressures have added another layer of complexity to an industry that already operates in a highly competitive global environment. For electronic component manufacturers, tariffs have increased costs on raw materials, finished goods and cross-border supply chain activities. In many cases, manufacturers have had to absorb some of those costs while balancing customer expectations for stable pricing and uninterrupted supply.

The companies that have navigated these challenges most successfully have focused on flexibility and long-term planning, rather than relying solely on price increases. One effective strategy has been to diversify manufacturing and sourcing footprints to reduce dependence on any single country or region. Many organizations have also strengthened supply chain visibility and forecasting capabilities, allowing them to make proactive decisions before cost increases fully materialize.

Another important approach has been deeper collaboration between manufacturers, distributors, and customers. By sharing demand forecasts, inventory plans and market intelligence more openly, supply chain partners can better manage risk and avoid unnecessary disruptions. In my experience, transparency and communication are often more effective than reacting to tariff changes after they occur.

Technology and operational efficiency have also played a significant role. Companies that have invested in automation, data analytics and process improvements have been better positioned to offset increased costs through productivity gains. These investments not only help address tariff-related pressures but also strengthen long-term competitiveness.

The industry must continue advocating for policies that support innovation, investment and global trade while building resilient supply chains that can adapt to changing economic and geopolitical conditions. The electronics industry has proven remarkably resilient over the years, and the organizations that remain customer-focused, agile and collaborative will be best positioned to succeed regardless of the trade environment.

What production standards need improvement?

MK: Rather than focusing on a single production standard, I believe the greatest opportunity lies in improving consistency, visibility and collaboration across the entire manufacturing and supply chain ecosystem. As products become more complex and customers demand faster development cycles, manufacturers need standardized approaches for quality reporting, traceability, demand planning and information sharing.

One area that deserves particular attention is end-to-end supply chain visibility. Customers increasingly expect real-time insight into product availability, lead times, and production status within an extremely complex global environment involving multiple country locations and contract manufacturers. Improving standards around data sharing and forecasting can help manufacturers, distributors, and customers make better decisions and reduce costly disruptions.

Another important focus is traceability and quality management. The electronics industry has always maintained high-quality expectations, but as global supply chains expand, ensuring consistent standards across regions, suppliers, and manufacturing partners becomes even more important. Enhanced traceability can improve reliability, support compliance requirements, and give customers greater confidence.

I also believe we should continue advancing standards for digital integration. Many companies still operate with disconnected systems and processes. More uniform approaches to data exchange, automation, and digital collaboration would improve efficiency across the channel while reducing administrative burden and errors.

The goal is not simply to produce components more efficiently. It is to create a more transparent, responsive, and resilient industry that continues to enable innovation and delivers a superior experience for customers.

From a state-of-the-industry perspective, what keeps you up at night?

MK: What keeps me up at night is ensuring our industry can keep innovating and growing amid increasing global uncertainty. The pace of change in areas like AI, automation and advanced electronics is accelerating faster than ever, while geopolitical challenges, workforce development and evolving regulatory environments continue to add complexity.

What gives me confidence, however, is our industry's collaborative nature. Organizations like ECIA bring manufacturers, distributors, and industry leaders together to address common challenges, share best practices and build a stronger future. By working together, we can continue driving innovation, developing new talent and creating opportunities for sustainable growth across the entire electronics industry.