-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- smt007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueBox Build
One trend is to add box build and final assembly to your product offering. In this issue, we explore the opportunities and risks of adding system assembly to your service portfolio.
IPC APEX EXPO 2024 Pre-show
This month’s issue devotes its pages to a comprehensive preview of the IPC APEX EXPO 2024 event. Whether your role is technical or business, if you're new-to-the-industry or seasoned veteran, you'll find value throughout this program.
Boost Your Sales
Every part of your business can be evaluated as a process, including your sales funnel. Optimizing your selling process requires a coordinated effort between marketing and sales. In this issue, industry experts in marketing and sales offer their best advice on how to boost your sales efforts.
- Articles
- Columns
Search Console
- Links
- Events
||| MENU - smt007 Magazine
IPC Education Foundation: STEM and Online Learning Resources
April 9, 2020 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
Nolan Johnson recently caught up with Charlene Gunter du Plessis, senior director of the IPC Education Foundation, about how the COVID-19 outbreak is affecting the IPCEF, including how they are continuing to connect with IPC Student Chapter members and seek industry support. Charlene also discussed the increased usage of IPCEF’s online educational modules and shares STEM resources.
Nolan Johnson: Charlene, have the government-issued virus containment orders caused you to change the way you do things?
Charlene Gunter du Plessis: One of our main goals is to bring students and electronics industry professionals together. In the past, that has meant in-person visits, which will need to change in the near future. It has significantly impacted our student chapter members networking with IPC members and essentially halted chapter meetings. We had planned hands-on activities at Vex, FIRST, and SkillsUSA, but all of those events have been canceled or postponed. Right now, we’re focusing on ways to share the knowledge and experience of the industry through online channels.
Overall, our greatest concern has to be the health and welfare of our colleagues and students. We are concerned about how long this will go on, and I think everyone shares that concern. People are resilient, and when a challenge like this happens, we will find creative ways to get things done. We may see some game-changing outcomes because we have to think about things a little differently.
Johnson: What message are you sending to IPC Student Chapter members?
Gunter du Plessis: We’re sharing our existing online content with our IPC Student Chapter members, and we have seen an uptick in usage. These educational modules cover important industry-related topics on hand soldering, mechanical assembly, wire harness assembly methods, component identification, component color codes and terminology training, and surface-mount joint quality standards, as well as an overview of electronics assembly.
Johnson: Do you know of any STEM-related or skills-building educational resources?
Gunter du Plessis: LinkedIn Learning has been a great educational tool. Other resources are available at udacity.com, udemy.com, and mooc-list.com, and IPC offers online courses for professionals here.
Besides the educational modules we have available to IPC Students Chapter members, we also provide them access to a list of STEM resources (A–Z) that connects them with valuable content for referencing or enhanced learning purposes. We also have some new resources we’ve been developing that we’ll be able to share soon.
Johnson: Is there anything else you would like to share with the industry?
Gunter du Plessis: We want to accomplish so many things, but we rely on industry support. The industry is working through this crisis like everyone else. We’ve all be affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, but the IPCEF remains true to our mission of sharing the great opportunities in electronics manufacturing with the emerging workforce. We’ll do that virtually for now, and when it’s appropriate, we’ll host hands-on events to connect students and industry professionals.
Johnson: Charlene, thank you very much for your time and for sharing those resources. I’m sure our readers will appreciate it.
Gunter du Plessis: Thanks for the opportunity, Nolan.
Charlene Gunter du Plessis is the senior director of the IPC Education Foundation.
Suggested Items
SMC Korea 2024 to Highlight Semiconductor Materials Trends and Innovations on Industry’s Path to $1 Trillion
04/24/2024 | SEMIWith Korea a major consumer of semiconductor materials and advanced materials a key driver of innovation on the industry’s path to $1 trillion, industry leaders and experts will gather at SMC (Strategic Materials Conference) Korea 2024 on May 29 at the Suwon Convention Center in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea to provide insights into the latest materials developments and trends. Registration is open.
Elevating PCB Design Engineering With IPC Programs
04/24/2024 | Cory Blaylock, IPCIn a monumental stride for the electronics manufacturing industry, IPC has successfully championed the recognition of the PCB Design Engineer as an official occupation by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). This pivotal achievement not only underscores the critical role of PCB design engineers within the technology landscape, but also marks the beginning of a transformative journey toward nurturing a robust, skilled workforce ready to propel our industry into the future.
Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2024: Going Vertical: SCHMID's Advanced Solutions for Printed Circuit Boards
04/24/2024 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPOEditor Marcy LaRont chats with Bob Ferguson, the president of SCHMID, about advanced solutions for PCBs and the equipment they are highlighting at this year's show. He delves into vertical no-touch handling systems and the prospect of achieving sub-10-micron lines. Inspired by SCHMID's technology, Bob expresses excitement about where the industry is today.
Big Win for Defense Production Act Budget Allocation in FY24 Budget
04/23/2024 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamOne year ago, President Biden issued a determination that chips and packaging are critical for national security. Since that time, much work has been done to continue the conversation in Washington, elevating the importance of the entire chips value chain, and including printed circuit boards and substrates, without which chips cannot operate.
Zentech’s Board of Directors Announces the Return of Matt Turpin as President and CEO
04/22/2024 | Zentech ManufacturingTurpin draws upon over 35 years of experience in the electronics industry and has an 18-year history with Zentech. He previously served as President and CEO from 2006 to 2019 after which time he has remained active in the EMS industry as an advisor to Zentech and other industry organizations.