Dan's Biz Bookshelf: 'Move Your Bus'
Driving Innovation: Direct Imaging vs. Conventional Exposure
It’s Only Common Sense: Selling to Today's Generation of Buyers
Is IPC the Past or the Future of our Industry?
January 28, 2016 | Jason Marsh, InsulectroEstimated reading time: 1 minute
In the electronics industry, there seems to be an infinite number of trade organizations, each with their own special niche and purpose. It can be challenging from the outside to understand why they each exist and how they fit together. First there is the alphabet soup of trade shows including IPC APEX EXPO, CPCA, HKPCA, JPCA, TPCA, DesignCon, productronica, IEEE Microwave, IMAPS, NEPCON, Meptec, Flex, Semicon West, CES, CEDIA, OE-A, MD&M, IDTechX and SMTA, to name a few. Then behind these trade shows there are the trade organizations that are the representatives of their respective technology niches such as IPC, CEA, NAMM, SMTA and IEEE. From a bare board fabricator and assembly perspective, the primary trade organization has historically been IPC. We look to IPC to take a lead in fostering our market, developing economically viable methods of standardization, and helping to bring suppliers and customers together.
For those of us manufacturing PCBs, assembling electronics or supplying the bare board industry, IPC is the steward of our industry and interests. For those of us who have been around for long enough, there is a good chance you have at some point experienced frustration with IPC and its mission or effectiveness at supporting our industry. Over the past decade and a half, North American fabricators have watched significant volumes of work transition from the U.S. to China. At the same time, operating costs have increased, EPA controls have tightened, and fabricators have been saddled with costly compliance requirements like Dodd Frank Section 1502 around conflict minerals, all of which add cost to U.S. operations, while the protection from overseas competition continues to be eroded.
Read the full article here.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the December 2015 issue of The PCB Magazine.
Share on:
Suggested Items
I-Connect007’s Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
07/04/2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007For our industry, we have seen several bullish market announcements over the past few weeks, including one this week by IDC on the massive growth in the global server market. We’re also closely watching global trade and nearshoring. One good example of successful nearshoring is Rehm Thermal Systems, which celebrates its 10th anniversary in Mexico and the official opening of its new building in Guadalajara.
Hon Hai Education Foundation Continues to Promote Quantum Education
07/04/2025 | FoxconnHon Hai Education Foundation has long been committed to promoting forward-looking technology education in Taiwan's high schools, and held the "High School Quantum Teacher Training Camp" in Tainan City on July 1.
Incap UK Achieves JOSCAR Zero Accreditation
07/04/2025 | IncapIncap Electronics UK has been accredited under JOSCAR Zero, a new sustainability-focused extension of the defence and aerospace sector’s supplier assurance system.
Kitron Secures Contract for Components Supporting Unmanned Aerial Systems
07/04/2025 | KitronKitron has received a contract with an estimated value between EUR 4 and 8 million for the production and supply of advanced electronic components used in unmanned aerial systems (UAS).
NOTE Receives Order Worth 132 MSEK and Expands Collaboration with Customer within Security & Defense
07/04/2025 | NOTENOTE has received an order worth SEK 132 million from one of its existing customers operating within Security & Defense. NOTE thereby strengthens its long-term collaboration with the industry-leading customer.