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I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
September 16, 2022 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

“You are the average of the five people that you spend the most time with.” This saying is attributed to Jim Rohn, and I couldn’t help thinking of that quote as I put together this week’s listings. Hear me out: 1) There are five items on our list; 2) These items zoomed to the top based on reader interest; 3) Every single one of these news items has an “association” association—IPC, iNEMI, SMTA, and NextFlex are all represented in what you, dear reader, chose to explore this last week.
Seems well-timed, actually. Trade show season kicks off with the first major conference in early October and continues into the spring of 2023. So, if you haven’t yet spent time with this association news, now’s your chance. Have a great weekend, everyone!
IPC Symposium Puts Spotlight on IC Substrate and Package Assembly
Published September 9
This inaugural two-day symposium on advanced packaging technology aims to move past the hype and focus on the business and technology for IC packaging. Twenty-eight speakers will fill out eight different sessions. For industry professionals for whom packaging advanced packaging R&D is of interest, this symposium is a must. Get all the details from IPC here.
Flexible Thinking: The Rapidly Expanding Realm of Stretchable Circuits
Published September 12
Industry pioneer and I-Connect007 columnist Joe Fjelstad sees a rise in interest in flex circuitry applications. Joe updates us on the progress in developing stretchable materials for use in applications such as wearable devices. He also highlights the work done by the NextFlex organization to provide a demonstration center which engineers can use as a lab space to get comfortable with flex materials. If you’re looking into how flex works for your applications, click through here.
Women’s Leadership Program Announces Presentation Program during SMTA International 2022
Published September 15
SMTA is sponsoring a Women’s Leadership Program as a part of the upcoming SMTA International 2022 conference and exposition in Minneapolis. Chairing the two presentation sessions and the social to follow are Tanya Martin, Jessica Molloy, Debbie Carboni, Julie Silk, Michelle Ogihara, and Sherry Stepp. The event is free; everyone is welcome to attend. Find more information here.
iNEMI Workshop: Reliability Challenges and Solutions for Automotive Electronics
Published September 14
Oct. 20 in Shanghai is where ZESTRON and iNEMI will host a workshop on the requirements and challenges facing electronics reliability for automotive applications. The speakers list is a deep pool of automotive electronics talent. If automotive is your area of interest, this is a valuable resource.
Pricing Strategies With Michael Carano
Published September 13
We spoke with Mike Carano, vice president of quality at Averatek, I-Connect007 columnist, and member of the IPC Thought Leaders Program, about the current market pressures on pricing. Carano had some interesting insights to share on the subject, and some strategies for increasing margins through pricing, yield and technology improvements. Spoiler alert: Many fabs are clawing back margin they gave up over the years.
Passing the Test With SMTA’s Rob Boguski
Published September 14
Andy Shaughnessy recently spoke with Rob Boguski, president of Datest, an SMTA vice president and board member. Rob explained why today’s test customers are asking for more information than the traditional pass/fail, offers a preview of SMTA International, and gives an update on SMTA’s planning strategy for the next five years. Whether test is your jam, or SMTA long-range planning is, you certainly should give this interview a read.
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Brent Fischthal - Koh YoungSuggested Items
Flexible Circuit Technologies to Host Free Flex Heater Webinar
08/18/2025 | Flexible Circuit TechnologiesGlobal Supplier of flexible circuits, flex design services, and assembly/box-build services, Flexible Circuit Technology will host their latest webinar, "Thermal Precision Meets Flexibility: The Technology Behind Heater Circuits" on Tuesday, August 26th, 2025 at 11 AM EDT.
A.R.T. Ltd. Nominated in Four Categories at 2025 Instrumentation and Electronics Industry Awards
08/11/2025 | A.R.T. Ltd.Advanced Rework Technology Ltd. (A.R.T. Ltd.), a leading provider of electronics training and consultancy, has been shortlisted in four categories at the 2025 Instrumentation and Electronics Industry Awards, including Industry Personality, Academic Support, Rising Star, and Best Customer Service.
EMC Taiwan Receives IPC-4101 Qualified Products Listing Certification
08/08/2025 | Global Electronics AssociationIPC’s Validation Services Program has awarded an IPC-4101 Qualified Products Listing (QPL) to Elite Materials Co. (EMC), an electronics base material manufacturing company headquartered in Taoyuan City, Taiwan.
Global Excellence in PCB Design: The Global Electronics Association Expands to Italy
08/07/2025 | Global Electronics AssociationIn today's rapidly evolving electronics industry, printed circuit boards (PCBs) serve as the critical backbone influencing the success, reliability, and time-to-market of countless products. Recognizing this essential role, the Global Electronics Association (formerly IPC), a worldwide leader in electronics standards, certification, and education, is now expanding its internationally acclaimed PCB design training to Italy.
Dana on Data: Best Practices in Interpreting Drawing Notes—‘Use Latest Revision’
08/07/2025 | Dana Korf -- Column: Dana on DataThe global nature of electronics manufacturing requires clear, consistent, and precise communication, particularly in technical documentation. An area where miscommunication often arises is in interpreting drawing notes—small lines of text with the potential to dramatically impact product quality, manufacturing efficiency, and customer satisfaction.