The semiconductor distributor's revenue fell sharply in 2007, to $90 million from approximately $450 million in 2006. Company executives trace the problems to the installation early last year of a new computer system that was incapable of printing invoices, billing statements and product-purchasing information, among other business data. The glitches brought down the company in a few months, as customers and suppliers departed in droves.

All American's new owners took the reins in June. "We've been working very hard to bring this company back. We had to go back to the suppliers and show them that the company was viable going forward," said Jamil Nizam, president and CEO. Today, All American's line card includes products from Fairchild Semiconductor, Renesas, Seiko Instruments, Semtech, TDK and Taiyo Yuden. The company has 15 locations in North America and one in Asia. In the aftermath of its downturn, it has invested more in sales and technical resources to achieve demand creation for its small to midsize OEM customers.

The most popular products the company sells are semiconductors and passive components. All American sees power products providing a lucrative opportunity in the near future, and it has a value-added supply center that offers custom and modular power supplies. The company is scheduled to expand its distribution lines in the third quarter to include interconnect and electromechanical products.