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

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

Well, it’s the last Friday in November. On any normal year in the U.S., this would be “Black Friday” because, for many retailers, the kickoff to the holiday season’s shopping spree is the source for most of the operating income for the year. While it remains to be seen how exactly how much traditional in-store and online retailing will rake in, with the varied pandemic lockdowns, it’s clear that readers wanted to get the latest electronics industry sales numbers! So, we’ve included the PCB and semiconductor sales and bookings report here.

In addition, I-Connect007 columnists captured reader attention this last week. We bring you three columns exhibiting excellent information and great writing as well.

Be safe as you close out November and enter into the last month of 2020. There are even more changes over the horizon for us in 2021, though many of them look to be leading us out of our current (temporary?) situation.

North American PCB Industry Sales Up 3 Percent in October
November 23, 2020

I can’t improve on the comments from Shawn DuBravac himself: “The current environment is starting to look increasingly like a normal recession and less like the initial shock. While PCB shipments were generally in line with expectations, bookings continue to fall below average.” But the future may have better news. 

North American Semiconductor Equipment Industry Posts October 2020 Billings
November 20, 2020 

Meanwhile, the semiconductor industry sees growth. “The semiconductor industry remains resilient despite challenges posed by the pandemic and geopolitical tensions,” said Ajit Manocha, SEMI president and CEO. The uptick in semiconductors is often a leading indicator for an increase in PCB bookings as well. 

Design Circuit: Failures of Imagination—A Column of Caution
November 20, 2020 

In his column, originally published in the November 2020 issue of Design007 Magazine, IPC’s Patrick Crawford explores the root cause of failures: failures of nerve and failures of imagination. Crawford draws upon history and the work of author Arthur C. Clarke in his essay, which is neither a failure of nerve nor of imagination. This is an excellent four-minute, thought-resetting read. 

Standard of Excellence: Bringing Your Salespeople Together
November 23, 2020 

Anaya Vardya and the team at American Standard Circuits turn their partner philosophy to sales departments. It’s all too easy to think of sales folks as competitors—even between two companies collaborating with each other. Anaya Vardya makes the case that the sales teams (perhaps especially) should partner, too. 

Trouble in Your Tank: A Process Engineer’s Guide to Final Etching, Part 1
November 20, 2020 

Mike Carano’s column is a rock-solid, steady presence here at I-Connect007, and is always full of technical detail, chemistry, and deep knowledge. Carano’s audience reflects the high value given to the applicability of his column. This particular column, however, drew significantly more readership than normal, and when you read it yourself, you’ll see why. When a masterful columnist like Carano pens a diamond amongst gems, it’s worth showcasing.