I-Connect007 Editor's Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week

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“May you live in interesting times.” – Ancient Chinese curse

It certainly seems that our times continue to be interesting, don’t they? Just how many different flavors of supply chain disruption can we come up with? Investment on the supply side needs to increase, but the size of the labor force needs to increase even more, if we want to accomplish the task of the buildout itself, let alone running the facilities properly.

Emerging areas of technology­—I’m thinking of AI specifically at the moment—will create entirely new industries for hardware, infrastructure, data collection, storage, analysis, and application. Jobs in these spaces will draw talented workers in large numbers, making for even more of a staffing vacuum in manufacturing even as the AI industry works to automate that industry. The dynamics certainly are interesting.

This week’s theme for our must reads is, loosely speaking, investment in more locally-sourced supply chain, government outreach, research and development, and our technology-interested youth. The best response to the Chinese curse, in my opinion? Make the world even more interesting than you found it.

IPC Releases PCB Industry Results for March 2022 
Published April 22

IPC reports that PCB year-to-date year-over-year bookings in March declined 25.9%. Compared to February 2022, bookings in March fell 1.3%. March shipments, however, were up. Click through to the article for more details.

FIRST Program Inspires Next Generation of Innovators 
Published April 22

Today’s students grow up immersed in a world of technology, yet how many of them actually see themselves taking on careers that advance this science? Barry Matties speaks with Adrienne Collins, director of programs at FIRST Washington, about the success of a student robotics program that fosters innovation, builds problem solving skills, and cultivates a concept that most of us have never heard of—gracious professionalism. When you see the interplay of these skills in action, you are blown away. There’s a bright future ahead.

Call for Papers for IPC APEX EXPO 2023
Published April 25

IPC APEX EXPO Technical Program Committee (TPC) is inviting engineers, researchers, academics, technical experts, and industry leaders to submit technical conference abstracts for IPC APEX EXPO 2023. Technical conference paper and poster abstracts are due Monday, June 20, 2022. Read the article here for more details.

TTM Breaks Ground at First Manufacturing Plant in Penang, Malaysia 
Published April 25

TTM Technologies, Inc., a leading U.S. based global manufacturer of printed circuit boards (PCB), radio frequency (RF) components and RF microwave/microelectronic assemblies, held its groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate its new manufacturing plant in Penang, Malaysia. The proposed capital investment for this plant is $130 million through 2025. To learn more about what this means for TTM and their customers, read it here.

PCBAA Member Profile: Davy Nakada, Rogers Corporation 
Published April 25

In this short interview, Davy Nakada, senior director at Rogers Corporation, discusses why the PCBAA (Printed Circuit Board Association of America) is arriving at just the right time. See what Nakada has to say here.

03/31/2023 | Patty Goldman, I-Connect007

Stanton Rak, principal at SF Rak Company, discusses his new IPC President's Award. He says a successful leader must demonstrate passion for what they do, and that working in an IPC leadership role requires a unique approach to collaboration. IPC’s diverse membership means leaders must cultivate patience and be open to relying on the expertise of their fellow professionals.

03/24/2023 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007

It’s almost as if upheaval is the new normal. We often describe slow-moving but unstoppable change as moving in “geologic time.” But occasionally–like an earthquake–geology shifts suddenly. Here in my office, tracking the news of the industry, things are moving faster than geologic time, but more slowly than the jolt of an earthquake. The wave seems almost surfable, where before it seemed overwhelming. In this week’s list, we bring news from five different, high-vibration areas in our industry. If you read nothing else this week, these five items will keep you informed.

03/21/2023 | Christopher Bonsell, Chemcut

This year, I had the great opportunity to come to IPC APEX EXPO in San Diego as a contributing member in Chemcut’s booth. Being an exhibitor is always interesting because you never know what you will learn or who you will meet. Truly, it seems that every IPC APEX EXPO is an eye-opening experience. This was the second show I attended, and last year I was amazed to see how in-depth and interconnected the electronics industry is. Seeing how many different companies contribute to manufacturing today’s core technology never fails to impress me.