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K & F Electronics Invests in Workforce Training with IPC-A-610
May 15, 2025 | K & F ElectronicsEstimated reading time: Less than a minute
In a strategic move to prioritize employee development and uphold quality standards, K & F Electronics, a third-generation, family-owned printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturer based in Fraser, Michigan, used a recent period of reduced production to certify its employees in IPC-A-610, the industry standard for the acceptability of electronic assemblies. This initiative not only enhanced the skill set of its workforce but also reinforced the company's dedication to quality and continuous improvement.
"Rather than implementing layoffs during our slower months, we chose to invest in our team's skills," said Sean Kincaid, President of K & F Electronics. “This decision meant our employees became more experienced, which means better quality work for our customers and fewer mistakes on the job.”
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SMT Perspectives & Prospects: Artificial Intelligence Part 6: Data Module 1
10/07/2025 | Dr. Jennie Hwang -- Column: SMT Perspectives and ProspectsData is one of the six pillars of AI infrastructure. It is critical to the performance of artificial intelligence (AI) models. AI data, essential to both the training and inference of Generative AI models, connotes the datasets used to train, validate, and test AI models. Training data provides models with a frame of reference by establishing a baseline against which models can compare new data using pre-trained models for predictions or generating new content.
Happy’s Tech Talk #43: Engineering Statistics Training With Free Software
10/06/2025 | Happy Holden -- Column: Happy’s Tech TalkIn over 50 years as a PCB process engineer, the one skill I acquired in college that has been most beneficial is engineering statistics. Basic statistics was part of my engineering fundamentals classes, but I petitioned the dean to let me take the engineering statistics graduate course because I was creating a senior thesis for my honors focus and needed more training on Design of Experiments (DOE).
Looking to Reduce Your Consumables Spend? Visit ROCKA Solutions at SMTA International
09/29/2025 | ROCKA SolutionsROCKA Solutions, a trusted North American manufacturer and distributor of high-quality consumables for the electronics manufacturing industry, is pleased to announce its participation at SMTA International 2025, taking place October 19–23, 2025, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois. Attendees can connect with the ROCKA team at Booth #2413.
Inside Thailand’s Rising PCB Hub: Touring a Chinese Fab
09/23/2025 | Edy Yu, Editor-in-Chief, ECIOFrom industry giants to emerging forces, many electronics companies are painting a grand blueprint for the future, laying out their plans in the investment hotbed of Thailand. This was evident during THECA in Thailand, where the most frequently heard buzzwords on and off the show floor were "going global," "building factories in Thailand," and "supply chain security.” With these insights, and full of expectations and questions collected at the exhibition, my team visited First Quality Circuit Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Sihui Fuji, located in the Amata Industrial Park in Rayong, Thailand
Global Sourcing Spotlight: Finding the Balance Between Cost and Quality
09/24/2025 | Bob Duke -- Column: Global Sourcing SpotlightIn global sourcing, pursuing lower costs often takes center stage. It’s the shiny lure that gets buyers to cast their lines into unfamiliar waters. But seasoned professionals know that in the long run, sourcing is less about price tags and more about value. The real magic—and margin—lies in finding the balance between cost and quality.