Western Digital HDD shortage due to floods in Thailand

[steveOooo]

http://www.computerworld.com/s/arti...shutdown_of_Western_Digital_s_Thailand_plants

This explains why my order for 2tb drives of a seller on amazon was cancelled.

Any alternatives to the 2tb WD black caviars drives? Not Seagate or equally sea-***** brand?

 

[Spacedust]

http://www.computerworld.com/s/arti...shutdown_of_Western_Digital_s_Thailand_plants

This explains why my order for 2tb drives of a seller on amazon was cancelled.

Any alternatives to the 2tb WD black caviars drives? Not Seagate or equally sea-***** brand?

All hdd's prices jumped like crazy !!! Seagate, Hitachi, Toshiba, Samsung all of them have higher prices now !

 

[steveOooo]

Dam, think I must have been a day late!

Surely there still producing hdds? But guess these are going to big vendors like apple / dell etc

 

[nanofrog]

I'd recommend waiting it out if at all possible for WD to get their supplies back up.

BTW, most I'm used to seeing, are Malaysian made (make of this what you will).

 

[Hellhammer]

BTW, most I'm used to seeing, are Malaysian made (make of this what you will).

Malaysia is next to Thailand, so I would assume they are experiencing the same floods.

 

[nanofrog]

Malaysia is next to Thailand, so I would assume they are experiencing the same floods.

I'm not so sure.

Had this been the case, I'd have expected the article to mention their Malaysian facility as well. But given it's further south, they may not be experiencing flooding, or if they are, it's not nearly as severe, and hasn't yet shut down the facility (may just be a matter of time though).

But even if Malaysia isn't affected (or won't), they're only producing 40% of WD's total HDD production according to the article, so the loss of Thailand's output is a huge hit.

 

[Hellhammer]

I'm not so sure.

Had this been the case, I'd have expected the article to mention their Malaysian facility as well. But given it's further south, they may not be experiencing flooding, or if they are, it's not nearly as severe, and hasn't yet shut down the facility (may just be a matter of time though).

But even if Malaysia isn't affected (or won't), they're only producing 40% of WD's total HDD production according to the article, so the loss of Thailand's output is a huge hit.

Hmm, looks like Malaysia doesn't have the floods, but Thai floods may still have a huge impact on productivity: http://www.iol.co.za/motoring/industry-news/thai-floods-shut-down-honda-malaysia-1.1164461

Anyway, buying an HD right now is probably not the best thing to do. At least here the prices have spiked up by over 100%.

 

[Umbongo]

I'm not so sure.

Had this been the case, I'd have expected the article to mention their Malaysian facility as well. But given it's further south, they may not be experiencing flooding, or if they are, it's not nearly as severe, and hasn't yet shut down the facility (may just be a matter of time though).

But even if Malaysia isn't affected (or won't), they're only producing 40% of WD's total HDD production according to the article, so the loss of Thailand's output is a huge hit.

I heard that a major supply of drive motors is affected - shut down completely. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that no one thought about such a part needing redundant production facilities in multiple regions.

 

[stev3n]

I went to MicroCenter and they have a limit of 2 HDD's per person.

 

[deconstruct60]

I heard that a major supply of drive motors is affected - shut down completely. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that no one thought about such a part needing redundant production facilities in multiple regions.

The pointy head bosses probably heard someone point out the issue , but more likely they all ignored it. Nikon and Canon have underwater camera factory facilities. There is a numerous items that are going to be in scarce supply for a while.

 

[nanofrog]

I heard that a major supply of drive motors is affected - shut down completely. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that no one thought about such a part needing redundant production facilities in multiple regions.

There are other suppliers that could be sourced until plant operations resume in Thailand. Prices will probably go up a bit (new supplier will have them over the proverbial barrel), but shouldn't stay as high as people are reporting.

The big thing to worry about using other suppliers and remaining assembly plants IMO, is QC. Drives made with other parts may not be as good, and/or remaining assembly facilities ramped up too high, causing additional errors to creep into the processes/assembly (such as machining tolerances out of spec on the aluminum frame).

The pointy head bosses probably heard someone point out the issue , but more likely they all ignored it. Nikon and Canon have underwater camera factory facilities. There is a numerous items that are going to be in scarce supply for a while.

Or claimed component logistics didn't work, or other suppliers were too expensive if any response was given by management.

There's a lot of components made in Thailand, so there will be shortages all over, and not just electronics (under the impression there's a significant automotive part manufacturing base there <alternators in particular IIRC>, not just final assembly).

 

[steveOooo]

I'm going to just order from amazon uk (£126) and get in line - its avail for £150 but I can use my 4tb graid while I wait (ssd and 2tb green are on their way so no big deal. Although, maybe I can get the enterprise drives for the £150 of the blacks

BAH! 1 drive per customer on amazon grrr.