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I-Connect007 Launches 'On the Line with...' Podcast with Series on Sustainability

Expanding its avenues of content delivery, I-Connect007 is excited to announce the launch of our latest educational product, On the Line with.., available on Spotify, Apple and all the major podcast platforms. In this podcast, we speak with industry experts to get the latest insights and perspectives on the most relevant topics in the electronics industry today.

Onboarding 101 With Mike Hoyt

You’ve decided to revamp your process for onboarding new hires, but where do you start? How do you create a thorough onboarding system that allows each new hire to become a happy, long-term employee? I asked Mike Hoyt, IPC’s training advisor, to discuss the organization’s onboarding program, the hiring issues facing companies in the PCB space, and the best way to get aboard a new onboarding process.

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

This week, I’m identifying key news about EVs, orbital payloads, environmental sustainability, the state of the economy, and new executive leadership. I’d say it’s a well-rounded selection of what’s happening in the industry. I can’t help but continue to be impressed by the pervasiveness of space commercialization. Satellites have a long history of being commissioned and operated by private business, but as commercial launch vehicles become more available, it seems that satellite launches are accelerating. Read on!

Catching a Cool Vibe in Del Mar

The Del Mar Electronics & Manufacturing Show in late April attracted a strong crowd, and for good reason. This show, which started in 1995 and attracts approximately 400 exhibitors, takes a refreshing approach: It’s at the local fairgrounds, so the vibe is cool, relaxed and easier on the pocketbook. Attendance hasn’t yet reached the highest pre-COVID levels, but show organizer Doug Bodenstab said registrations improved over last year.

Keep Your Foot on the Gas

Digi-Key’s Mike Slater is vice president of global business development and responsible for supplier and customer business development around the world. After his presentation at the EMS Leadership Summit at IPC APEX EXPO 2023, Nolan Johnson reached out for additional market perspective. Here, Mike talks about the current component supply chain and what to expect in the upcoming years. He provides insight for assemblers and OEM design teams alike.

The Solder Tip

During the recent SMTA Boise Expo & Tech Forum, I spoke about hand soldering with Craig Morris, an area sales manager at JBC Tools, a company that has served the global electronics industry for decades. In this interview, Craig shares some of the latest developments in his company’s soldering tool, which allows the technician to use time, technique, and temperature to improve the finished product.

Advice to the Learner

Barry Matties chats with both Dale Lee and Alexander Noggle, a college student attending SMTA Houston Expo & Tech Forum, about the need to listen to the past but keep an eye on the future, especially when it comes to understanding technology. For now, Dale says, get out and gain as much industry experience as possible.

The Benefits of Vapor Phase Reflow Soldering

JB Byers, vice president of technical support services at A-Tek Systems in Longmont, Colorado, recently gave a presentation on vapor phase reflow soldering at the SMTA Boise Expo & Tech Forum. After his presentation, I-Connect007 briefly talked with him about how the process can help reduce voids and lower operating cost.

Got Six Minutes? Watch ‘Leveraging the IPC CFX-QPL to Integrate Equipment for a Small Factory’

Episode 9, “Leveraging the IPC CFX-QPL to Integrate Equipment for a Smart Factory,” from Koh Young’s new micro webinar series ‘Smarter Manufacturing Enabled with Inspection Data’ is available now.

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

In this week’s must-reads, we have coverage of NAMM 2023 and SMTA Atlanta, plus some tips for traditional PCB designers who are entering the RF design space, where designers have to master ideas like antenna tuning. We also have some news about March PCB sales, as well as a great conversation with Ventec’s Frank Lorentz, who explains how to set up an onboarding process that converts new hires into happy, long-term employees.


SMTA Atlanta: No Rain Delay For This Event

The SMTA Atlanta Expo & Tech Forum couldn’t stop the rain, but the chilly, rainy weather didn’t deter the technologists who came out for this annual event yesterday. Held at the Atlanta Tech Park small business incubator in Norcross, Georgia, the show drew a crowd primarily from the SMT segment, along with a number of designers and fabricators.

Why the EMS Leadership Summit Matters

When I first entered the electronic manufacturing services (EMS) industry in 1989, I had some engineering experience, but zero knowledge as to how to manufacture anything. At that point, I didn’t realize how little I understood about the real, yet alone subtle, differences between an EMS company and OEMs. A colleague of mine suggested I contact IPC to see what resources they had available. The recommendation: Join an upcoming meeting of senior EMS industry leaders, known as the EMS Management Council. I attended my first EMS management meeting that year and started participating on the EMS Council Steering Committee shortly after. That initial experience has drawn me back yearly for over three decades.

Today's EMS Companies Headed for Generational Revolution

Marge Laney, founder and CEO of Alert Tech SMT, a Houston-based EMS company, shares her thoughts on bringing young people into manufacturing—a sector she’s convinced may be headed toward big growth. At the SMTA Houston Expo & Tech Forum, Marge invited a group of young students from a local technology school into her facility for a tour.

A Complex and Contradictory Economic Outlook

At this year’s EMS Summit held at IPC APEX EXPO, I shared IPC’s economic outlook for 2023 and 2024. The electronics industry overcame significant hurdles and headwinds in 2022, thanks in large part to strong underlying demand. While many of those hurdles and headwinds have subsided, the industry faces new challenges in the year ahead. At the EMS Summit, I shared three key themes defining the year ahead.

Taking Charge of ESD

At the recent SMTA Boise Expo & Tech Forum, Barry Matties spoke with Doug Holtz, national sales manager of Conductive Containers, about challenges related to ESD and where manufacturers are most vulnerable. It’s a growing concern, Doug says, and there are important lessons to be learned. Doug also reviews his presentation, and he points out how reducing touchpoints in the supply chain can make a world of difference for both customers and manufacturers.

Trends in Supply Chain Dynamics

Editor’s note: CalcuQuote CEO Chintan Sutaria used his presentation at the EMS Leadership Summit to share market insights that could be concluded from usage data within the CalcuQuote environment. This article, authored by David Sharp, vice president of products, summarizes and updates the information shared at the summit.

Watch Now: ‘Advanced Process Control & Inspection,’ Episode 8 of ‘Smarter Manufacturing Enabled with Inspection Data’

In this episode, Koh Young topic expert Ivan Aduna examines how closed-loop communication can make all the difference when it comes to inspection and achieving zero defects in your production line. Ivan also explores the importance of equipment suppliers working together to create M2M connections that allow for real-time exchange of SPI and AOI measurement data between machines—all in under four minutes.

NAMM 2023: It’s All About That Bass

The use of AI in the music industry seems only natural. For example, if you’re trying to create a specific sound, rhythm, mix of instruments, or volume level, you’d typically be in front of a series of mixers and controls, making tweaks and adjustments. If you’re trying to create a piece of music that is similar to one you already have, AI can do that for you. Just give it some basic instructions and let it go to work.

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

SpaceX is back in the news and in a big, powerful, let’s-blow-up-a-rocket-because-we-can kind of way. The company had scheduled a test launch on Monday, April 17 for the SpaceX Starship, only to scrub that launch until this past Thursday. Well, the results from the launch were less than desirable—or were they? While Starship ultimately exploded just prior to stage separation, simply clearing the launchpad was considered a major milestone by SpaceX.

Plug into the Ecosystem and Network

Barry Matties met Wade Pinder during the Cup of Joey event at the Ion in Houston, Texas. Wade is a successful product manager and Houston-area college lecturer who likes to tell young students and industry stalwarts alike to reach out and learn from each other. He shares his thoughts on finding and hiring the right talent.


Bob Wettermann: Making the ‘Best’ of His Career

Bob Wetterman started his career in the semiconductor industry, but after a series of industry and economic changes, he tapped into that entrepreneurial spirit. For more than 20 years, he has been leading and developing BEST, Inc., a shop customizing in PCB rework and repair. In this interview, Bob reflects on his long career, and we meet Nash Bell, who will be leading BEST through its next phase.

Panel Discussion: CMMC and Cybersecurity

The electronics manufacturing sector faces unique challenges when it comes to cybersecurity, given the highly sensitive nature of the information that it handles. With the introduction of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) framework, businesses will soon be required to meet specific, more stringent cybersecurity standards to bid on Department of Defense contracts. This has made cybersecurity hygiene and CMMC compliance more important than ever for businesses in the sector, as non-compliance can result in lost revenue and reputational damage.

Finding Stability in the Supply Chain

MacroFab is clearly on the grow, so what’s on their minds these days? CEO Misha Govshteyn, speaking from the company’s Guadalajara, Mexico, facility, shares that the company recently closed a second round of funding, bringing the total investment pool to just north of $80 million. Second round investors include Foundry and BMW i Ventures as well as existing investors Edison Partners and ATX Venture Partners. They also just opened a 48,000 square foot plant in Houston, Texas.

Watch Now: ‘Focused Process Optimization,’ Episode 7 of ‘Smarter Manufacturing Enabled with Inspection Data’

Episode 7, “Focused Process Optimization,” from Koh Young’s new micro webinar series ‘Smarter Manufacturing Enabled with Inspection Data’ is available now.

Spring Issue of IPC Community Now Available for Download

Welcome to the Spring issue of IPC Community! This quarterly publication was created with you in mind! In this issue, you’ll find articles, interviews, columns, graphics, surveys, IPC member benefits, and so much more. Each issue is designed to celebrate the success between IPC and its members and how this relationship benefits the entire electronics manufacturing industry.

IPC Honors Committee Volunteers

This year, IPC introduced two awards as a way to show appreciation for its standards development volunteers and leaders. The Hillman-Lambert Award for Volunteer of the Year was awarded to Michael Ford of Aegis Software and Christina Rutherford of Honeywell Aerospace. The Goldman-Kessler Award for Committee Leader of the Year went to Bob Cooke of NASA’s Johnson Space Center.

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

How was your week? We’ve been pretty busy ourselves, bringing you coverage of the SMTA Expo & Tech Forum in Boise, Idaho. Tabletops shows like this offer a great value during the spring, in between the bigger shows like IPC APEX EXPO and SMTA International. In fact, SMTA schedules approximately 30 regional shows around the United States and abroad.

Local SMTA Expos: A Great Format for Meeting Customers

At the Dallas SMTA Expo & Tech Forum, I met with Isaiah Smith, Midwest sales manager for BTU International. Isaiah is fairly new to BTU as well as the Midwest, and here he explains why events like Dallas SMTA are must-attend shows for him. We also discuss the welcome arrival of more young people in this industry.

CHT: Where Heat Dissipation’s on the Rise

Guest editor Kelly Dack recently spoke with Phil McDermott of CHT. Phil gave Kelly a brief overview of the products designers, engineers, and manufacturers might need, particularly when it comes to thermal management.

SMTA Boise: More Than Potatoes in Idaho

At Tuesday’s SMTA Boise Expo, Barry Matties visited with SMTA Boise Chapter President Tony Whitt, who talked about the genesis of this regional show, and what he’s learned about selling in today’s digital world. Two big companies in the Boise area support the region’s electronics manufacturing industry, and these companies are having the same struggle as so many others—where are the people who actually want to work?


EPTAC: Think Globally, Act Locally

At the recent Dallas SMTA Expo and Tech Forum, I spoke with many of the 100 exhibitors who dotted the exhibit floor. David Thomas, an IPC master instructor at EPTAC, was running the training company’s booth there. I asked him to update me on EPTAC’s latest efforts and to discuss the value of exhibiting at local events like this one.

Watch Now: 'Focused Data Analysis,' Episode 6 of ‘Smarter Manufacturing Enabled with Inspection Data'

Episode 6, “Focused Data Analysis,” from Koh Young’s new micro webinar series "Smarter Manufacturing Enabled with Inspection Data" is available now.

EMS Industry is Hungry For Data—and Staff

I recently spoke with Chintan Sutaria, the founder and CEO of CalcuQuote, a company that has developed quoting software for the EMS industry aiming to automate a process that had largely depended upon emails and spreadsheets. In this interview, Chintan explains how the company is bringing more supply chain data into the equation, the challenges his customers are facing, and what sorts of inventory he’s seeing today.

Coming Clean with KYZEN

At the recent SMTA Dallas Expo & Tech Forum, I spoke with Fernando Rueda, manager of the Americas for KYZEN, about the company’s newest technologies and trends he’s seeing in SMT cleaning processes. As Fernando points out, cleaning is now a requirement for most boards, and the cleaning process becomes more challenging as features get smaller and faster. No-clean technology can often make a challenging situation worse.

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

The adage about spring weather in Northern temperate climates is, “April showers bring May flowers.” This is, of course, on the heels of March, when the weather comes “In like a lion, out like a lamb.” The suggestion for March is that whatever way the month starts, it will end just the opposite. But we’re in the first week of April, where things are expected to settle into a steady state of preparation for an abundance just over the horizon. Sound a bit like our business climate right now, doesn’t it?

SMTA Has Plans for Growing Membership

During the SMTA Dallas Expo & Tech Forum, I met with Gary Tanel, chapter officer for the Dallas SMTA as well as director of membership for the organization. We discussed some of the plans Gary has in play for expanding the membership numbers, including offering a new corporate membership which allows companies to bring hundreds of employees into the organization.

Don Kinard: Let’s Go Where We’ve Never Gone Before

I spoke with Dr. Don A. Kinard, a senior fellow at Lockheed Martin, at the recent SMTA Dallas Expo. Don gave a fantastic presentation on digital twin technology and how it has changed Lockheed’s manufacturing process. In this interview, Don shares some insight into implementing digital twin, trends in the supply chain, and the CHIPS Act’s effect on our industry. He also discusses—importantly—the need to inspire our next generation of engineers with the same sense of wonder that Americans felt during the early Apollo missions.

The Need for Real-time Measurements on the Factory Floor

During SMTA Dallas Expo 2023, Barry Matties spoke with Morgan Miller, field application engineer at Insituware, about the need for real-time measurement capabilities, like the Vision MARK-1 device offers, which is powered by analytical sensors, machine learning, and cloud-based technology to bring materials control solutions right to the factory floor.

Finding the Perfect Fit in a No-Clean World

Barry Matties stopped by the Austin American Technology booth at the recent SMTA Dallas Expo and chatted with business development director Justin Worden about the need to clean “no-clean” flux and how maybe a name change when it was introduced might have staved off some of the confusion. Justin also talks about how a round of golf led to his entry into the printed circuit board industry.

Trends in SMT Cleaning

During SMTA Dallas Expo, I had the chance to interview Mike Gunderson, a solutions expert at MaRC Technologies, about the trends in cleaning, what this means for Factory 4.0, and why his company brought equipment to the show this year.


Watch Now: ‘Focused Data Management,’ Episode 5 of ‘Smarter Manufacturing Enabled with Inspection Data’

Episode 5, “Focused Data Management,” from Koh Young’s new micro webinar series ‘Smarter Manufacturing Enabled with Inspection Data’ is available now.

Deciphering the Presidential Determination

On March 27, 2023, U.S. President Biden issued a presidential determination that, IPC states, “prioritizes the domestic development of printed circuit boards (PCBs) and advanced packaging, including IC substrates, under Title III of the Defense Production Act (DPA). IPC welcomes this action, but what does this really mean? IPC vice president of global government relations, Chris Mitchell, joins Nolan Johnson to clarify what a presidential determination is, what it means to both the industry and individual companies.

Serving up SMTA—Texas Style

Last week I had the pleasure of attending both the SMTA Dallas Expo and the SMTA Houston Expo, which was just two days later. It was great to see nearly 100 booths at the Dallas show and around 70 booths at the Houston show, many of which were showing equipment. If you know SMTA then you know it’s positioned as a global association working at a local level; it was extremely evident at these events.

Stanton Rak: Patient Leaders Nurture Growth

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.

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

Texans like to say that everything is bigger in Texas. That certainly seems to be the case for the SMTA Dallas Expo & Tech Forum. Publisher Barry Matties and I attended SMTA Dallas on Tuesday, and the tabletop show has now grown to 100 exhibitors, up from 92 vendors last year. It’s become more than a local or regional show, with some exhibitors flying in from Silicon Valley and the East Coast.

Dallas SMTA Show: The Perfect Recipe

Tuesday’s SMTA Dallas Expo and Tech Forum drew a strong crowd of exhibitors and attendees to the Plano Event Center in metropolitan Dallas. The show has been growing over the years—excluding a brief pandemic timeout—and featured 100 exhibitors, an increase from last year’s event.

Automation and Flexibility: Essential Components for Future-thinking EMS Companies

The near future for electronics manufacturing services is all about automation and flexibility. Three key factors affect EMS companies today: the high cost of labor, maintaining a reliable supply chain, and an increasingly high variety of products being manufactured. Quality trained personnel are essential and the supply of both product components and machine parts must remain stable despite difficult geopolitical situation.

Dallas SMTA Expo Bigger, Better Than Ever

The Dallas chapter of SMTA hosts an annual technical conference and exhibition that rivals some industry shows. I-Connect007’s Barry Matties is onsite at this year’s event and sent back this audio interview with Gary Tanel, longtime event organizer and a key part of the SMTA Dallas chapter leadership. Matties and Tanel discuss the history and organization of the event, and why it’s a must-attend for exhibitors, attendees and researchers alike.

Garry McGuire: Aiming for the Stars

Garry McGuire of the Jacobs Space Exploration Group at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, reflects on the serendipitous moment that led to a leadership role at IPC and the enduring relationships he’s built through his participation in the organization. With the rapid advance of technology constantly pushing the industry forward, Garry urges newcomers to jump in and experience all IPC has to offer.

Advancing in a New Era

What goes down must also come up. This is not the idiom we’re used to hearing, but I’d like to apply it to IPC APEX EXPO 2023. After a few years of lower attendance numbers due to the COVID pandemic, 2023 ushered in a re-invigorated group of attendees, exhibitors, speakers, event contractors, and staff to the show floor and meeting rooms. IPC APEX EXPO 2023 was fueled by the possibilities of new advances in electronics manufacturing.


Watch Now: Episode 4 of the Micro Webinar Series: ‘Smarter Manufacturing Enabled with Inspection Data’

Episode 4, “Envisioning the Factory of the Future” from Koh Young’s new micro webinar series ‘Smarter Manufacturing Enabled with Inspection Data’ is available now.

Watch Now: Episode 3 of Koh Young Webinar Series: ‘Smarter Manufacturing Enabled with Inspection Data’

Episode 3, “Connectivity Using CFX and HERMES” from the new micro webinar series ‘Smarter Manufacturing Enabled with Inspection Data’ is available now.

Five Issues Troubling EMS Companies

The role of electronic manufacturing services (EMS) companies is very often misunderstood. Some perspectives, however, are helpful to frame the question of what is on their minds, especially in the current global environment. EMS companies build products but they are not really “product” companies. While they may provide design services, the designs are still owned by their customers. As a result, they do not have the right to select or change components. In most cases, the EMS company will still be responsible for purchasing these components which are typically 70–90% of their cost to produce the end products. They also do not determine what volumes should be built.

Fortifying EMS Leaders

The EMS Leadership Summit at IPC APEX EXPO 2023 welcomed over 60 EMS provider and contract manufacturing professionals, many of whom were first-time attendees, with a compelling agenda that provided an opportunity to discuss and solve business problems, build business networks, and share insights about how to do business better.

Darwin AI Evolving the Islands of Automation

When Canadian artificial intelligence company Darwin AI was founded in 2017, machine learning and deep learning were still relatively new terms. In the past five years, CEO Sheldon Fernandez and his team have been working with this technology to develop some foundational IP to simplify implementation. About a year ago, Sheldon took a “part happenstance, part deliberate” opportunity to develop a vertical offering for EMS manufacturing. Here’s what happened.

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

The captive shop used to be the rule, not the exception. Until outsourcing caught on, that is. North American captive shops went the way of the dodo bird, and the PCB market hasn’t been the same since. Even R&D went out the window, or offshore, if you want to be technical about it. But Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) is something of a wild card. The company recently opened a new captive facility in Idaho, and the industry is paying close attention.

Sarah Czaplewski-Campbell: Ready to Take Flight

Sarah Czaplewski-Campbell, a materials/product development engineer at IBM, shares her experiences as a young professional who has benefited from the guidance of seasoned mentors alongside her own unflagging drive to expand her industry knowledge. She offers poignant advice for prospective professionals, urging them to assertively seek out advice and experiences that will help them progress in their careers.

Runner-up Discusses IPC Design Competition

PCB designer Adam Thorvaldson of Innovex was a finalist in this year’s IPC Design Competition at IPC APEX EXPO. He came in second place in this final heat, which is quite a feat, considering that the contest started last fall with 49 contestants from around the globe. We asked Adam to share his thoughts on the competition, what it means to be one of the winners, and any ideas about improving the contest for 2024 in Anaheim.

Sypris Reports 15% Revenue Growth in Q4

Consolidated revenue for the quarter increased 15.2% year-over-year and 17.9% sequentially driven by continued expansion across the business.

The EMS ‘State of the Union'

We recently heard President Biden’s State of the Union address, and it got me thinking that perhaps now is a good time to look at our own post-pandemic “state of the union” in the electronics manufacturing services industry. I will describe several key issues that our customers around the world are facing as we move forward into a new normal.


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