-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- pcb007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueAdditive Manufacturing
In this month’s issue, we explore additive manufacturing technology for the PCB fabricator: where it stands today, the true benefits, and where it seems to be headed.
The Growing Industry
In this issue of PCB007 Magazine, we talk with leading economic experts, advocacy specialists in Washington, D.C., and PCB company leadership to get a well-rounded picture of what’s happening in the industry today. Don’t miss it.
The Sustainability Issue
Sustainability is one of the most widely used terms in business today, especially for electronics and manufacturing but what does it mean to you? We explore the environmental, business, and economic impacts.
- Articles
- Columns
Search Console
- Links
- Events
||| MENU - pcb007 Magazine
Uncovering the Electronics Ecosystem
April 8, 2022 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Nolan Johnson speaks with Will Marsh, vice president of TTM Technologies and president of the Printed Circuit Board Association of America, about the work the PCBAA has been doing in Washington, D.C., to get the industry better recognized by the country’s decision-makers. Marsh is optimistic, not only about the companies and individuals joining the effort, but in the recognition by Capitol Hill to secure the nation’s defense systems.
Nolan Johnson: Let’s start with talking about PCBAA’s mission. What are the programs to accomplish that mission? We’ve been covering legislation here in the U.S. to bolster semiconductors. How do we, as an industry, bring that same attention to PCB?
Will Marsh: About a year ago, TTM was engaged with an advocacy effort on Capitol Hill. We realized that one voice wasn’t enough and that we needed to reach out to our peers, our competitors, and our competitive mates, and seek their support as an industry voice. And that’s exactly what we did.
In April 2021, we legally and formally formed with five founding companies: Calumet, Insulectro, Isola, Summit Interconnect, and TTM Technologies. Since then, we’ve grown to 15 members and there are 12 other companies and individuals who have reached out to me and are interested in joining.
Our growth pattern has skyrocketed thanks to interviews and publications, such as yours and others, that are allowing us to speak on behalf of the printed circuit board industry, the printed circuit board assemblers, and the critical material suppliers. From TTM’s perspective, we are unable to produce bare printed circuit boards without certain chemicals and critical materials. So, we consider the critical material suppliers to be imperative in our journey.
We discovered that most of the attention in Washington, D.C., was being spent discussing onshoring or reshoring of the semiconductor industry and the chip manufacturers. We started to tell our part of the microelectronics ecosystem story and how printed circuit boards are part of an ecosystem and not just about chips. We found that members and staff on the Hill, the White House National Security staff, Department of Commerce, and Department of Defense staff that we briefed were unaware of a larger electronics ecosystem.
We created a three-word phrase that helped place us in the ecosystem, tied to the semiconductor industry: “Chips don’t float.” They have a home; they have a foundation. As important as semiconductors are, if the chip is the brain, the board is the body. If we as a country don’t address the ecosystem story—and we’ll get into some statistics of why we’re doing this for our industry—then this is a “to do” about nothing. What happens if we build all the semiconductor chips in America, but we are fully 90% reliant on Asian and European firms that deliver boards?
You can see some of the problems associated with supply chain that define risk and that define national security implications. This three-word phrase has begun to resonate in a microelectronics ecosystem story, whereby people are now saying printed circuit boards are imperative in this overall journey. We are proud of that.
Johnson: Tell me about the three pillars of PCBAA.
Marsh: They are the mission statement for the association. First is promoting domestic production of PCBs flat out, as well as assemblers and critical materials suppliers. The second pillar is enhanced domestic supply chain security and resiliency. As I said earlier, our dependency on foreign supply chains was realized during the early COVID months.
The third pillar is creating initiatives for fair market conditions. Our industry in America competes against other companies in America. But as an industry, we are competing against other countries. There are many foreign subsidies being plowed into Asia because they want to be the global monopoly for all electronics. So, advocating for fair market conditions means we’re looking for demand for signal dissipation by the government to be able to compete internationally.
Why do I say that? First, section 224 of the fiscal year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act added printed circuit boards to the definition of microelectronics. Now we have a seat at the table within the Department of Defense. We are defined as part of microelectronics.
To read this entire conversation, which appeared in the March 2022 issue of PCB007 Magazine, click here.
Suggested Items
New Chairman at Printed Circuit Board Association of America
05/24/2024 | PCBAAThe Printed Circuit Board Association of America announced the end of Travis Kelly’s term as chairman, a position he has held since the association’s founding in 2021. He will be succeeded by Shane Whiteside, President and CEO of Summit Interconnect.
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
05/24/2024 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007Recently, I was reading a report from Deloitte on the Mexican economy (and don’t judge me what I read while I wait my turn at the gym). This particular report is cited in an interview scheduled for the June 2024 issue of SMT007 Magazine. I made note of a few things.
Growing Wire Harness Industry in India Highlighted at EWPTE 2024
05/24/2024 | Brittany Martin, IPC/WHMA Marketing Coordinator“Made in India” was a central phrase at EWPTE 2024. The wire harness event hosted the inaugural “India Pavilion” which showcased Indian wire harness companies on the exhibit floor.
Listen to I-Connect007’s Latest Podcast Episode: Empowering Electrical Engineers
05/23/2024 | I-Connect007I-Connect007 is thrilled to announce the release of the latest episode in Series 3 of its popular podcast, On the Line With... , available now on Apple and Spotify.
An AI Revolution in Wire Harness Manufacturing
05/24/2024 | Brittany Martin, IPC/WHMAIn the wire harness industry, a narrative unfolds that is as intricate and interconnected as its products. Arik Vrobel’s journey from El-Com Systems to the founding of Cableteque is one of enduring innovation, strategic adaptation, and a deep understanding of the industry’s evolving needs. His development of an AI application for the wire harness industry may be a game-changer for manufacturers.