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

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I’m home now, after being away for a good chunk of the past month covering IPC APEX EXPO and DesignCon. I like to travel, but with work travel, you have to be “on” constantly, so it was great to get back home and hit the “pause” button. It’s funny what you miss when you’re on the road; I think I missed my Memory Foam pillow more than I missed some of my friends. 

So, I’m back in the saddle! This week, we published a variety of articles, columns, and news items. But let’s have a special round of applause for Reps. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Blake Moore (R-UT), two members of the House of Representatives who sent the DoD a letter detailing the need for more production of PCBs and IC substrates in the United States. Republicans and Democrats have been mixing like oil and water lately, so it’s promising to see these two reach across the aisle and try to get something accomplished for the greater good. 

Will anything come of it? We’ll let you know. 

Printed Circuit Boards Have Champions on Capitol Hill
Published February 14

Are our Congress critters finally starting to get the picture regarding U.S. PCB manufacturing? Maybe. IPC VP of Global Relations Chris Mitchell shared a letter that Reps. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Blake Moore (R-UT) sent to the DoD. They urge the department to “leverage all available resources” to increase production of PCBs and IC substrates in the U.S. Certainly a step in the right direction; now let’s see if anything concrete happens.

ICAPE Group Acquires FIMOR Electronics in France
Published February 16

ICAPE continues to expand its global footprint with the acquisition of FIMOR Electronics, a component manufacturer and distributor based in Le Mans, France. ICAPE now has facilities in France, South Africa, and Sweden, as well as a service office in Foshan, China.

Elementary, Mr. Watson: Turning Your Career up to Eleven
Published February 16

In this column, John Watson describes the two different types of PCB designers that he encounters: those who work a tight eight hours each day, and those who work until the project is finished. This could apply to any other discipline as well, really. Where do you fall on this scale? John offers tips and techniques for designers, all based on lessons he learned from the mockumentary “This is Spinal Tap.” You never know where inspiration will come from.

Koh Young: Getting Equipment In-Line and Customers Online
Published February 15

When it’s time to acquire new capital equipment, where do you start? In this interview with Nolan Johnson, Koh Young’s Mitchell Kim, Brent Fischthal and David Nemeth detail their best practices for purchasing equipment, from the initial decision through installation and calibration. As they explain, part of their job involved educating the customer during this process.

It’s Only Common Sense: Solving Your Talent Problem
Published February 13

Dan Beaulieu likes to stir the pot. But when he starts out with “Some of you will not like this column,” you know he’s bringing the fire. As he points out, there’s probably a reason that talented people don’t want to work at your company. If you’re having trouble filling positions, Dan suggests asking yourself, “Why would I want to work here?” If you’re not showing new hires a career path, they’re not going to stick around long. And with four openings for every job hunter in this industry, they don’t have to stick around. Why would anyone want to work at your company?

     

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.

03/30/2023 | Patty Goldman, I-Connect007

Teresa Rowe, IPC senior director, Assembly and Standards Technology, has been inducted into the Raymond E. Pritchard Hall of Fame. She looks back on her unexpected introduction to IPC and how both passion and perseverance have always been at the heart of our industry’s drive to innovate. Seize every chance to grow and learn, Teresa says, and always keep moving toward the next opportunity.

03/28/2023 | Patty Goldman, I-Connect007

Patty Goldman catches up with Gene Weiner, the longest-serving member of IPC, about his experience meeting with the next generation of engineers in IPC’s Emerging Engineers program through a unique contest held at IPC APEX EXPO 2023. Weiner, who has attended well over 60 annual IPC meetings, shared his unflagging optimism and the lessons he’s learned over his illustrious career with the young professionals who managed to find him at the show. With so much still to do, Weiner has no plans to retire any time soon; he’s already hard work helping IPC develop a new program to support aspiring managers in the industry.