Standard of Excellence: Delivering Excellence—A Daily Goal
Knocking Down the Bone Pile: Tin Whisker Mitigation in Aerospace Applications, Part 3
The Knowledge Base: Building the Workforce of Tomorrow With EMAC
2019 IPC EMS Management Meeting Wrap-up
March 19, 2019 | Tracy Riggan, IPCEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
EMS leaders gathered on January 28 at IPC APEX EXPO 2019 to discuss issues critical to EMS providers today including supply chain issues, customer contracts, labor optimization and talent shortages, and market insights. Roundtable sessions offered dynamic discussions. Participants noted that the sharing of experience and networking that took place at these meetings was invaluable.
The highlight of the day was a supply chain challenges panel and discussion featuring supplier, distributor, and end-user perspectives on addressing component supply and lead time challenges. Panelists included Steve Ulm of Vishay, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of discrete semiconductors and passive electronic components; Olaf Korn of Arrow Electronics, a global provider of products, services, and solutions to industrial and commercial users of electronic components and enterprise computing solutions; and John Caltabiano of Jabil Inc., a top manufacturing solutions provider.
Among other factors, the panel pointed to customer-specific requirements as a key driver of supply chain disruption. Vishay’s Ulm brought to light many of the contributing factors to the growth in lead times and recent slowdowns. Arrow’s Korn highlighted the constant mismatch between downstream demand levels and upstream production capacity and complex demand patterns causing distortion of demand. He suggested BOM flexibility and forecasting far beyond lead times are key to mitigating supply chain disruption. Caltabiano from Jabil tagged a “new normal” with regards to how we think and plan supply chain, pointing to a consolidation of the supply base, demand expansion, and rapid technology transfer among other trends.
Elsewhere in the agenda, Jeff Roth and Allen Anderson of F&B Law Firm gave a thorough review in the much-needed area of customer contracts. Roth and Anderson addressed features such as compliance clauses, potential pitfalls or “gotcha” clauses, and other critical contractual considerations. The gentlemen from F&B stressed the critical nature of legal review in protecting company interests. Throughout the day, the forum tackled labor issues from two directions—automation opportunities and talent shortages. Neil Hamlett of IBM Watson brought to light some developing AI solutions. These new AI capabilities may soon have application in manufacturing processes where the challenges are affordability and practicality in high-mix, low-volume situations. Colette Buscemi, IPC’s senior director of education programs, provided a quick update on IPC workforce development initiatives as a lead-in to a roundtable discussion on experiences, ideas, and strategies to address workforce and talent shortages.
To read the full article, which appeared in the in the Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2019 Show & Tell magazine, click here.
Share on:
Suggested Items
Advancing Aerospace Excellence: Emerald’s Medford Team Earns Space Addendum Certification
06/30/2025 | Emerald TechnologiesWe’re thrilled to announce a major achievement from our Medford, Oregon facility. Andy Abrigo has officially earned her credentials as a Certified IPC Trainer (CIT) under the IPC J-STD-001 Space Addendum, the leading industry standard for space and military-grade electronics manufacturing.
Magnalytix and Foresite to Host Technical Webinar on SIR Testing and Functional Reliability
06/26/2025 | MAGNALYTIXMagnalytix, in collaboration with Foresite Inc., is pleased to announce an upcoming one-hour Webinar Workshop titled “Comparing SIR IPC B-52 to Umpire 41 Functional & SIR Test Method.” This session will be held on July 24, 2025, and is open to professionals in electronics manufacturing, reliability engineering, and process development seeking insights into new testing standards for climatic reliability.
IPC Rebrands as Global Electronics Association: Interview With Dr. John W. Mitchell
06/22/2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007Today, following a major announcement, IPC is embracing the rapid advancement of technology with a bold decision to change its name to the Global Electronics Association. This name more accurately reflects the full breadth of its work and the modern realities of electronics manufacturing. In this exclusive interview, Global Electronics Association President and CEO Dr. John W. Mitchell shares the story behind the rebrand: Why now, what it means for the industry, and how it aligns with the organization’s mission.
Global Electronics Association Debuts; New Name Elevates IPC’s 70-Year Legacy as Voice of $6 Trillion Electronics Industry
06/25/2025 | Global Electronics AssociationToday begins a new chapter for IPC as it officially becomes the Global Electronics Association, reflecting its role as the voice of the electronics industry. Guided by the vision of “Better electronics for a better world,” the Global Electronics Association (electronics.org) is dedicated to enhancing supply chain resilience and promoting accelerated growth through engagement with more than 3,000 member companies, thousands of partners, and dozens of governments across the globe.
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
06/20/2025 | Andy Shaughnessy, I-Connect007It’s been a busy week in this industry, and we have news and articles from the PCB design, fabrication and assembly communities. Some of this news is out of this world. We may be losing the high ground—the really high ground. Columnist Jesse Vaughan explains how the U.S. seems to be falling behind in space, and how this could affect our ability to defend ourselves in the future. We have an update on the U.S.-China tariff talks, which seem to be moving forward, though sometimes at a snail’s pace.