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I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
June 2, 2023 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
This week has been both speedy and newsy. Of course, those two characteristics often seem to travel as a pair, don’t they? A four-day week here in the United States, accompanied by a wave of high-impact news from a wide variety of sources, would suggest that readers could be expected to spread out all over the news map. Not so much, judging from readership numbers; folks all found their highest value in the same type of news coverage. What do I mean by that?
This week's list of must-reads is dominated by market reports as a result of that focused readership. On our list, we have PCB fabrication and EMS book-to-bill reports, a 10-year market forecast report, and a supply chain sentiment report. In addition, readers flocked to the EWPTE show coverage. Finally, we saw significant reader interest in the most recent podcast on sustainability in our logistical operations.
EWPTE, the Cable and Wire Harness Industry’s Exclusive Trade Show Draws More than 3,000 Attendees
Published May 26
Wire harnesses and cabling share a close connection (see what I did there?) with board assembly. So, it would follow that there might be a close affiliation between EMS companies and the Electrical Wire Processing Technology Expo (EWPTE), held by the Wiring Harness Manufacturer’s Association (WHMA) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, May 16-18. Readership was strong for this article. No surprise, either, that attendance also was stronger than expected.
Readers interested in this article should also find Happy Holden’s dispatch from the event to be of interest here.
North American PCB Industry Sales Up 12.1% in April
Published May 26
April numbers in the IPC surveys show a mixed result. Shipments are strong, while bookings are softer. Shawn DuBravac, IPC chief economist, share his thoughts on why. Also published and inter-related is IPC’s EMS market report here.
Sustainability in Logistics: Reducing Your Carbon Footprint
Published May 31
Now available on I-007e Podcasts and Spotify, Episode 4 of I-Connect007’s new podcast, On the Line with… features an interview with Christian Wendt, marketing and communications department head at Siemens Digital Logistics. Wendt discusses the most obvious area of concern for logistics sustainability: reduction of the carbon footprint. Fossil fuel costs are one thing, but Wendt explains a wide variety of logistics-related areas to consider, ranging from employee burnout to governmental regulations and how they vary from country to country.
Electronics Manufacturers Reporting Cautious Optimism, Especially for Second Half of 2023
Published May 31
Market reports from IPC were in high demand for readers this week. This news item teases the May 2023 Global Sentiment of the Electronics Supply Chain report. IPC chief economist Shawn DuBravac’s team shares data and analysis that suggests cost pressures are receding, and demand currently remains positive. The article uses the phrase “cautiously optimistic.” Learn more about what DuBravac summarized, and read the full report, here.
EMS Market to Surpass $794.32 Billion, at 4.27% CAGR By 2030
Published May 29
This piece received a lot of reader attention. The article summarizes a number of factors contributing to this growth, both market-driven and internal/process driven. For example, this passage:
“With the introduction of advanced automation solutions and the rise of Industry 4.0 systems, the electronics manufacturing services market is projected to experience continual innovations in manufacturing processes and technology. These technologies are intended to aid in the optimisation of production costs, resulting in increased profitability for EMS service providers. Furthermore, the rising demand for artificial intelligence-based electrical goods and solutions is expected to propel the EMS industry in the coming years. Along with automation, miniaturisation is another trend that is predicted to boost the growth of the EMS industry.”
Read the article here to learn what else will be driving the EMS industry for the next 10 years.
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SMTAI 2025 Review: Reflecting on a Pragmatic and Forward-looking Industry
10/27/2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007Leaving the show floor on the final afternoon of SMTA International last week in Rosemont, Illinois, it was clear that the show remains a grounded, technically driven event that delivers a solid program, good networking, and an easy space to commune with industry colleagues and meet with customers.
Come Together: Tom Marktscheffel Used Data to Build CFX and a Global Factory Standard
10/27/2025 | Sandy Gentry, Community MagazineWhen Tom Marktscheffel, director of product management software solutions at ASMPT, looks back on his nearly three decades in electronics manufacturing, one word stands out: data. “Data is the new gold,” he says. Without it, automation, artificial intelligence, and the factory of the future are impossible. With it, the industry can move from manual, error-prone processes to smart, connected systems that make real-time decisions.
Simplifying Software Integration for Every Factory
10/22/2025 | Nolan Johnson, SMT007 MagazineAs a leading provider of factory digitalization solutions for electronics manufacturers, Cogiscan is at the heart of the software integration process. Davina McDonnell, director of marketing and product management, discusses how Cogiscan ensures that customers are ready to integrate and what it looks for to ensure a quick and appropriate installation.
MES Software Tools Need Thoughtful Integration
10/21/2025 | Nolan Johnson, SMT007 MagazineThe Global Electronics Association recently published a survey report on the state of EMS production software. This project, led by Thiago Guimaraes, director of industry intelligence, connects the dots across the global electronics value chain to uncover practical insights that individual companies might not have seen on their own. In this interview, Thiago discusses the whys and hows of this report.
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.