during technology's late-1990s heyday, ems players routinely acquired assets in high-cost locations. ems players largely focused on printed circuit board fabrication, leaving system assembly to the oems. ems companies largely disdained industries outside the world of information processing (computers) and communications. in recent years, ems players have shifted production to low-cost geographies; embraced non-traditional industries including consumer electronics, industrial, medical and instrumentation; and added substantial vertical capabilities, stretching from design and odm through system assembly, test, delivery and logistics, warranty and repair, network services, software and silicon design, and customer service.