The paper discusses how the top contract manufacturers in the electronics industry try to become providers of Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS) by deepening and
broadening the range of services they offer and by diversifying into markets other than computing and telecommunications.

This rapidly changing industry is bound to see more drastic change; yet the growing weight of EMS providers in world electronics output and employment and their role in the shift of output towards Asia and lower cost locations make the study of their strategies important for those active in the industry as well as for those in government responsible for innovation, employment, industrial and industrialization policies.