I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
November 10, 2023 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007 MagazineEstimated reading time: 2 minutes

This week's edition focuses almost entirely on young people. This in itself is quite a feat as not long ago, there were no young people coming into this industry. Now, we have a small but steady stream of young folks entering the industry, and we’re focusing on providing them with the latest training and education. Our industry, for a variety of reasons, is now attractive to people born in this millennium. Didn’t see that coming!
Without further ado, enjoy this week’s Top Five Must-Reads.
PCB Carolina 2023 Breaks Attendance, Exhibitor Records
Published November 9
It was bound to happen, and this year, PCB Carolina’s exhibits expanded into the classrooms in NC State’s MacKimmon Center. The number of attendees approached 1,200 this year, with about 100 fresh-faced EE students mingling with the industry elders and picking up bags of booth swag. Next year’s event is going to be off the chain, as the kids say.
Meet the New Workforce at IPS
Published November 6
Speaking of young people, Barry Matties brings us a feature with a variety of interviews with young technologists and their mentors at IPS in Cedar City, Utah. As Mike Brask explains, young people’s optimism can be infectious throughout the company. It’s nice to see all these young folks discovering this industry now. It’s a sign our industry is becoming cool again.
A Unique Engineering Space in Mankato
Published November 9
Nolan Johnson has an interview with Associate Professor Rob Sleezer of Minnesota State University’s Twin City Engineering school. As Rob says, this non-traditional two-year school focuses on multiple domains of engineering, graduating technologists who have a well-rounded view of the engineering world.
The New Chapter: Reimagining PCB Design in Education
Published November 6
Not long ago, there were only a handful of PCB design classes at colleges and universities. But that’s changing—slowly, but surely. Columnist Hannah Nelson brings us a column on the expansion of PCB design education offerings at colleges in the U.S. Not long out of college herself, Hannah offers a variety of suggestions to help make these classes more attractive to smart young people.
Smart Factory Insights: Today’s Manufacturing Jobs Require a New Skill Set
Published November 10
There’s been a lot of talk about Smart processes over the past five years or so. But what does it take to train technologists to work in this new arena? Columnist Michael Ford explains the challenges of training new employees in Smart processes, as well as the many benefits. As he points out, this work will never be boring.
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SEMICON West: The Path to a $1 Trillion Future
10/14/2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007After more than 50 years in San Francisco, SEMICON West moved its 2025 show to Phoenix, which is significant because it highlights the importance of Arizona as a semiconductor and tech hub. Though the show will be back in San Francisco in 2026, the overwhelmingly warm welcome SEMI received from Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, and ASU President Michael Crowe—who has been responsible for ASU repeatedly achieving the U.S. News and World Reports most innovative university ranking—was remarked upon repeatedly. All indications are that SEMICON West may well be back in Phoenix after that 2026 season.
Technica USA Named Exclusive U.S. Distributor for DCT Cleaning Products
10/14/2025 | Technica USATechnica USA is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with DCT USA, LLC, becoming the exclusive master distributor of DCT cleaning products in the United States, effective November 1, 2025.
Is Glass Finally Coming of Age?
10/13/2025 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007Substrates, by definition, form the base of all electronic devices. Whether discussing silicon wafers for semiconductors, glass-and-epoxy materials in printed circuits, or the base of choice for interposers, all these materials function as substrates. While other substrates have come and gone, silicon and FR-4 have remained the de facto standards for the industry.
Amplifying Innovation: New Podcast Series Spotlights Electronics Industry Leaders
10/08/2025 | I-Connect007In the debut episode, “Building Reliability: KOKI’s Approach to Solder Joint Challenges,” host Marcy LaRont speaks with Shantanu Joshi, Head of Customer Solutions and Operational Excellence at KOKI Solder America. They explore how advanced materials, such as crack-free fluxes and zero-flux-residue solder pastes, are addressing issues like voiding, heat dissipation, and solder joint reliability in demanding applications, where failure can result in costly repairs or even catastrophic loss.
The Training Connection, LLC Welcomes Industry Veteran Jack Harris to Lead Training Partnerships
10/07/2025 | The Training Connection LLCThe Training Connection, LLC (TTC-LLC), a premier provider of test engineering and development training, is proud to announce that Jack Harris, one of the most recognized names in electronics manufacturing training and technical development, has joined the company as Relationship Lead, Training.