-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- smt007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueProduction Software Integration
EMS companies need advanced software systems to thrive and compete. But these systems require significant effort to integrate and deploy. What is the reality, and how can we make it easier for everyone?
Spotlight on India
We invite you on a virtual tour of India’s thriving ecosystem, guided by the Global Electronics Association’s India office staff, who share their insights into the region’s growth and opportunities.
Supply Chain Strategies
A successful brand is built on strong customer relationships—anchored by a well-orchestrated supply chain at its core. This month, we look at how managing your supply chain directly influences customer perception.
- Articles
- Columns
- Links
- Media kit
||| MENU - smt007 Magazine
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
May 12, 2023 | Andy Shaughnessy, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

It’s not hyperbole to say that there’s never a dull moment in the world of PCB design and manufacturing. There’s always something interesting happening, and each week our contributors bring us a wide variety of articles, columns, and news items.
This week’s must-reads contains a veritable potpourri of information from around the industry. We have a Pete Starkey review of the latest EIPC webinar on ultra HDI and thin film resistors, an interview with the founder of an electronics trade school in Texas, and an update from PCBAA about their lobbying efforts in Washington.
We also have news about our brand-new podcast, or “pod,” as the kids say, and a column about the wisdom of Don Draper that just might serve technologists and managers well. Read on, folks!
I-Connect007 Launches 'On the Line with...' Podcast with Series on Sustainability
Published May 10
If you’re like me (and who isn’t?), you’re always looking for new content on Spotify. Well, you’re in luck. Our new podcast On the Line with… is now available on Spotify and other podcast platforms. Our first podcast features Siemens’ Patrick Hope and Pat McGoff discussing sustainability in PCB manufacturing.
It’s Only Common Sense: Eight Things I Learned from Don Draper
Published May 8
Many of us watched “Mad Men,” a show set in a 1950s-era ad agency that critics claimed glorified day drinking and sexual harassment in the workplace. That may be true. But along the way, protagonist Don Draper, creative director of the fictional ad agency, lays down some serious wisdom. Dan Beaulieu explains what we can all learn from the man with the snappy gray suit.
EIPC Review: Ultra-high-density Interconnects, Thin-film Resistor Materials
Published May 10
Pete Starkey returns with another installment of his coverage of the EIPC Technical Snapshot webinar series, and, of course, it’s one of the most-read articles of the week. No one covers these events like Pete; he breaks down cutting-edge presentations from the top experts in the industry, and provides background info so the reader can understand the potential ramifications of new processes and technologies. Always worth a read.
Texas Trade School Links Students With Employers
Published May 9
Chances are, you have a few open positions at your company, and you probably don’t have a stack of resumés awaiting your perusal. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a pipeline of young people who are trained and ready to start working? It may be time to team up with a school like Elvia Quintanilla’s Texas Technical Trade School. In this interview, she discusses the school’s curriculum, an electrical technical program taught by a certified electrical engineer.
American Made Advocacy: PCBAA's New Representation
Published May 11
Ever since the CHIPS Act was released last year, there’s been a lot of talk about how the DoD is going to support the electronics industry. But some of us don’t trust Washington as far as we can throw Rep. Jerrold Nadler. PCBAA is working to make sure that the CHIPS Act isn’t just lip service by congressmen eager to win reelection. In this column, Executive Director David Schild discusses the CHIPS Act, as well as the organization’s mission to “educate, advocate, and legislate for our industry.”
Testimonial
"We’re proud to call I-Connect007 a trusted partner. Their innovative approach and industry insight made our podcast collaboration a success by connecting us with the right audience and delivering real results."
Julia McCaffrey - NCAB GroupSuggested Items
SEMICON West: The Path to a $1 Trillion Future
10/14/2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007After more than 50 years in San Francisco, SEMICON West moved its 2025 show to Phoenix, which is significant because it highlights the importance of Arizona as a semiconductor and tech hub. Though the show will be back in San Francisco in 2026, the overwhelmingly warm welcome SEMI received from Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, and ASU President Michael Crowe—who has been responsible for ASU repeatedly achieving the U.S. News and World Reports most innovative university ranking—was remarked upon repeatedly. All indications are that SEMICON West may well be back in Phoenix after that 2026 season.
Technica USA Named Exclusive U.S. Distributor for DCT Cleaning Products
10/14/2025 | Technica USATechnica USA is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with DCT USA, LLC, becoming the exclusive master distributor of DCT cleaning products in the United States, effective November 1, 2025.
Is Glass Finally Coming of Age?
10/13/2025 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007Substrates, by definition, form the base of all electronic devices. Whether discussing silicon wafers for semiconductors, glass-and-epoxy materials in printed circuits, or the base of choice for interposers, all these materials function as substrates. While other substrates have come and gone, silicon and FR-4 have remained the de facto standards for the industry.
Amplifying Innovation: New Podcast Series Spotlights Electronics Industry Leaders
10/08/2025 | I-Connect007In the debut episode, “Building Reliability: KOKI’s Approach to Solder Joint Challenges,” host Marcy LaRont speaks with Shantanu Joshi, Head of Customer Solutions and Operational Excellence at KOKI Solder America. They explore how advanced materials, such as crack-free fluxes and zero-flux-residue solder pastes, are addressing issues like voiding, heat dissipation, and solder joint reliability in demanding applications, where failure can result in costly repairs or even catastrophic loss.
The Training Connection, LLC Welcomes Industry Veteran Jack Harris to Lead Training Partnerships
10/07/2025 | The Training Connection LLCThe Training Connection, LLC (TTC-LLC), a premier provider of test engineering and development training, is proud to announce that Jack Harris, one of the most recognized names in electronics manufacturing training and technical development, has joined the company as Relationship Lead, Training.