-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- smt007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueWhat's Your Sweet Spot?
Are you in a niche that’s growing or shrinking? Is it time to reassess and refocus? We spotlight companies thriving by redefining or reinforcing their niche. What are their insights?
Moving Forward With Confidence
In this issue, we focus on sales and quoting, workforce training, new IPC leadership in the U.S. and Canada, the effects of tariffs, CFX standards, and much more—all designed to provide perspective as you move through the cloud bank of today's shifting economic market.
Intelligent Test and Inspection
Are you ready to explore the cutting-edge advancements shaping the electronics manufacturing industry? The May 2025 issue of SMT007 Magazine is packed with insights, innovations, and expert perspectives that you won’t want to miss.
- Articles
- Columns
- Links
- Media kit
||| MENU - smt007 Magazine
Meet the New Workforce at IPS
November 6, 2023 | Barry Matties, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

As the workforce continues shifting to the next generation—with a noticeable lack of appeal toward manufacturing careers—it’s even more important to share the voices of those who have chosen to work in manufacturing. We believe that raising awareness will inspire others to consider manufacturing as the strong and viable career path that it is.
I recently visited IPS in Cedar City, Utah, which has been manufacturing wet process equipment for printed circuit boards fabrication for more than 30 years. While there, I conducted candid one-on-one interviews with several of the team members. They shared their views on manufacturing, their roles and challenges, their burgeoning passion for what they do, and valuable advice for others looking at manufacturing as a career.
Something I found very interesting was IPS’s long-term partnerships with the local high schools, trade schools, and colleges. Mike Brask, president of IPS, says this is not only good for the community, but part of his company’s core values. He introduced me to several young employees, part of the next generation of manufacturing professionals poised to make their mark.
Caleb Aagard
Caleb Aagard, a local high school student and the youngest intern at IPS. Caleb found this opportunity at IPS through his high school’s CTE intern program and has taken full advantage of the experience, while sharing some concerns and advice for other high school students.
At just 16 years old, Caleb already has goals and a clear direction for his career. He was so well-spoken about his passion for learning about manufacturing, and his journey through it. Mike recognizes this and has given Caleb responsibility for important tasks. Caleb also has a direct mentor, but he quickly emphasizes that the entire IPS team has been helping him learn, including an allowance for mistakes. You’ll see how, with the guidance of his mentors, he is learning from those mistakes.
His mentor, Ben Herring, told me that the mentorship program at IPS is not just important for high school students to gain real-world experience, but for everyone who works at IPS. Ben talks about the challenges of training and strategies to be successful.
It was easy to see how a career in manufacturing appeals to Caleb, especially when he started talking about the manufacturing tools he uses. He gave me a quick overview of a very cool project he’s working on, and it was so encouraging to see his passion. I know you’ll sense that right away. This is one video definitely worth watching.
To read this entire article, which appeared in the November 2023 issue of SMT007 Magazine, click here.
Suggested Items
Infineon Advances on 300-millimeter GaN Manufacturing Roadmap as Leading Integrated Device Manufacturer (IDM)
07/10/2025 | InfineonAs the demand for gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductors continues to grow, Infineon Technologies AG is poised to capitalize on this trend and solidify its position as a leading Integrated Device Manufacturer (IDM) in the GaN market.
TTCI Joins Printed Circuit Engineering Association to Strengthen Design-to-Test Collaboration and Workforce Development
07/09/2025 | The Test Connection Inc.The Test Connection Inc. (TTCI), a leading provider of electronic test and manufacturing solutions, is proud to announce its membership in the Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA), further expanding the company’s efforts to support cross-functional collaboration, industry standards, and technical education in the printed circuit design and manufacturing community.
GlobalFoundries to Acquire MIPS to Accelerate AI and Compute Capabilities
07/09/2025 | GlobalFoundriesGlobalFoundries announced a definitive agreement to acquire MIPS, a leading supplier of AI and processor IP. This strategic acquisition will expand GF’s portfolio of customizable IP offerings, allowing it to further differentiate its process technologies with IP and software capabilities.
LITEON Technology Reports Consolidated June Sales of NT$13.6 Billion, Up 16% Y-o-Y
07/08/2025 | LITEON TechnologyLITEON Technology reported its June consolidated revenue of NT$13.6 billion. Thanks to the growth from power management in cloud computing, advanced server, and networking, the revenue is up 2% M-o-M, 16% Y-o-Y. The cumulative sales for January to June totaled NT$76.8 billion, up 24%, Y-o-Y.
Inside Aimtron’s Cross-border EMS Strategy
07/08/2025 | Nolan Johnson, SMT007 MagazineMukesh Vasani immigrated from a very small farming village in India to the U.S. in 1995 as a civil engineer. After shifting into electronics, Mukesh built his Chicago-based company, Aimtron, into a successful enterprise by combining quality with competitive pricing. He leveraged his roots in India to expand manufacturing without compromising on quality.