Global Citizenship: Comparing and Contrasting the U.S. and China PCB Industries
Standard of Excellence: Finding and Hiring the Right Candidates for Engineering Positions
Global Sourcing Spotlight: 10 Rules of the Game
EMS Roundtables: Leaders Helping Each Other
March 13, 2024 | Glenna Carrell, IPCEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
This year, as an extension of our yearly EMS Leadership Summit at IPC APEX EXPO, we have begun hosting regional roundtables. These meetings primarily provided an opportunity to network with fellow EMS leaders in each region. At these scheduled receptions and dinners, leaders gather to solve problems, build business networks, and discover potential new insights. At the same time, IPC facilitators share information regarding IPC initiatives and EMS market data.
So far, regional roundtable gatherings have taken place in the Midwest, Great Lakes, Pacific Northwest, Southern California, and the California Bay Area. All have received excellent feedback. Ongoing EMS regional meetings will be scheduled twice a year with an annual national/global EMS Summit event at IPC APEX EXPO. Future regional gatherings are planned this year in Texas, Florida, and the Northeast Coast of the United States. All EMS leaders are encouraged to attend; there is no cost, and you do not need to be an IPC member.
To give you a sense of the discussions ongoing at the roundtables, here are some excerpts and examples:
How can we make the EMS industry sexy again?
In 2024, there are challenges and opportunities at the forefront of the EMS industry. We continue to see a tight labor market and supply chain issues resulting in uncertainty for the future. Efficiency and optimized workforce management were on everyone’s minds. Both large and small EMS companies face a commonality with the retirement of experienced staff/workers, skilled labor shortages, and decisions on how to be ready to hire a new and inexperienced workforce. Mark Evans of Green Circuits asked, “How do we make the EMS industry sexy again?” In other words, what will bring the new and younger generation into this industry?
The great unknown: What does the EMS future bring?
Digital innovation—robotics, automation, and artificial intelligence (AI)—promises to transform the industry in years to come, stretching all the way from development to design to fabrication to assembly. Electronics manufacturing is experiencing rapid expansion, new cutting-edge technology, and moving in great strides with innovative processes and design. The priority will be to gather, understand, and implement this data effectively across this industry.
Concerns were voiced about how new digital innovations will change the way manufacturers operate, the profitability of the new innovations, the effects of smart manufacturing on the workforce, and the resiliency of the supply chain.
ERP: Is there one that really works?
Reach out and let us know your thoughts. Future regional gathering dates and registration information can be found here.
Join us and continue the conversation at the EMS Leadership Summit at IPC APEX EXPO 2024. The EMS Leadership Summit brings together current and future EMS industry leaders to focus on high-level topics that drive business growth and financial success. Leaders gather insights from experts and discuss their own and potential new best practices during panel discussions and roundtables. This meeting of minds inspires action and builds resources for participants, future leaders, and the greater EMS industry. Relax and continue making connections at the EMS Networking Dinner after the summit adjourns. Dinner is included with your summit registration.
For additional information, contact Mark Wolfe at MarkWolfe@ipc.org or Glenna Carrell, GlennaCarrell@ipc.org.
This article originally appeared in the March 2024 issue of SMT007 Magazine.
Share on:
Suggested Items
Altus Sees Growing Interest for Laser Depanelling Solutions
11/04/2024 | Altus GroupAltus Group, a leading distributor of capital equipment in the UK and Ireland, has seen an increasing interest in laser depaneling systems from LPKF in 2024.
November 2024 SMT007 Magazine: The Rise of Data
11/04/2024 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamAnalytics is a given in this industry, but the threshold is changing. If you think you're too small to invest in analytics, you may need to reconsider. So how do you do analytics better? What are the new tools, and how do you get started?
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
11/01/2024 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007 MagazineIt’s been a busy week in PCB design, fabrication, and assembly. We published some mixed news about the EMS segment, and an article about the supply chain. Are companies holding onto too much inventory? After the recent supply chain snafus, I can certainly understand why they might. We have an article about liquid metal ink, a cool new technology developed by LDQX, formerly known as Averatek. We also have an article about fighting advanced counterfeiting methods, and news about an acquisition by Siemens.
ViTrox Americas Doubles Capacity at Demo Center in Hutto, Texas
11/01/2024 | ViTroxViTrox Americas Inc. is proud to announce the expansion of the ViTrox Demo Center in Hutto, Texas. The company has doubled its capacity to meet growing customer demand.
Poland’s Purchase of Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods To Add Combat-Proven Capability, Interoperability for New FA-50 Fighters
11/01/2024 | Lockheed MartinLockheed Martin will deliver Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods (ATP) to Poland in a sale the U.S. State Department said will improve the security of a NATO ally that is a “force for political stability.”