It’s Only Common Sense: Marketing Isn’t Fluff, It’s Ammunition
Driving Innovation: Mechanical and Optical Processes During Rigid-flex Production
The Chemical Connection: Onshoring PCB Production—Daunting but Certainly Possible
Mark Thompson’s Column
April 17, 2018 | Prototron CircuitsEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Mark Thompson, customer liaison engineer for Prototron Circuits, has returned to Design007 Magazine this month with his extremely popular I-Connect007 column, “The Bare (Board) Truth.”
Thompson took some time off from writing to focus on assisting Prototron’s customers with their engineering support needs.
“Things got really busy at work for a while as we increased our technology and our number of customers, which encompassed a great deal of my time,” said Thompson. “But to tell you the truth, I really missed writing and interfacing with my readers.”
Thompson said he was also motivated to begin writing again by seeing a decline in the quality of the data packages he receives customers.
“At first, I thought that this was problem that only we were experiencing,” Thompson explained. “But after calling a few of my colleagues at other board houses, I realized that this problem is occurring everywhere. It’s an industry-wide epidemic and something that is really affecting our ability to do our job to the best of our ability. Because of the data package issue, I will be especially focused on helping our customers’ designers and engineers gain a better knowledge of how boards are built, and what kind of data we need to build the best PCBs possible.”
Mark Thompson’s latest column appears in the April 2018 Design007 Magazine.
About Prototron
With over 30 years in business, Prototron Circuits is one of the industry leaders when it comes to high-technology quick-turn printed circuits boards. Their continued outstanding performance (98%+ quality and delivery) has made them a true preferred source of all companies needing reliable QTA PCBs. And now with their new global sourcing solutions, Prototron Circuits is truly America’s board source. Prototron has facilities in Redmond, Washington and Tucson, Arizona. Join their LinkedIn group, or click here.
Share on:
Testimonial
"In a year when every marketing dollar mattered, I chose to keep I-Connect007 in our 2025 plan. Their commitment to high-quality, insightful content aligns with Koh Young’s values and helps readers navigate a changing industry. "
Brent Fischthal - Koh YoungSuggested Items
Update: Technica USA Begins Exclusive U.S. Distributor for DCT Cleaning Products
11/03/2025 | Technica USATechnica USA is pleased to announce they have begun shipping product for DCT USA, LLC today. Technica recently announced a strategic partnership as the exclusive master distributor of DCT cleaning products in the United States, which became effective November 1, 2025.
It’s Only Common Sense: Marketing Isn’t Fluff, It’s Ammunition
11/03/2025 | Dan Beaulieu -- Column: It's Only Common SenseI’ve lost count of the times I’ve heard someone dismiss marketing as “fluff.” You know the tone: a little smirk, a little condescension, and the implication that “real companies” don’t need marketing. They say, “We make a great product. Our work speaks for itself.”
Standard of Excellence: Speed vs. Quality in Customer Service
10/29/2025 | Anaya Vardya -- Column: Standard of ExcellenceThe key to a company’s success is excellent customer service. In our industry, with tight deadlines, high expectations, and particularly where customers demand immediate responses, there’s a challenging balancing act between speed and quality. PCB companies—like all businesses serving demanding B2B clients in aerospace, defense, medical, and high-reliability markets—often feel caught between responding quickly and providing accurate, helpful, and meaningful information.
Simplifying Software Integration for Every Factory
10/22/2025 | Nolan Johnson, SMT007 MagazineAs a leading provider of factory digitalization solutions for electronics manufacturers, Cogiscan is at the heart of the software integration process. Davina McDonnell, director of marketing and product management, discusses how Cogiscan ensures that customers are ready to integrate and what it looks for to ensure a quick and appropriate installation.
It’s Only Common Sense: The Phone Is Still Mightier Than the Keyboard
10/20/2025 | Dan Beaulieu -- Column: It's Only Common SenseThere’s a dangerous myth that the keyboard is mightier than the phone, and if you blast enough cold emails, send enough LinkedIn connection requests, and fire off enough PDF proposals, customers will eventually buy from you. Let me set the record straight: Cold emails don’t close deals; conversations do.