-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- smt007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueCounterfeit Concerns
The distribution of counterfeit parts has become much more sophisticated in the past decade, and there's no reason to believe that trend is going to be stopping any time soon. What might crop up in the near future?
Solder Printing
In this issue, we turn a discerning eye to solder paste printing. As apertures shrink, and the requirement for multiple thicknesses of paste on the same board becomes more commonplace, consistently and accurately applying paste becomes ever more challenging.
A Culture of Thriving
One cannot simply command thriving; it must be nurtured, developed, and encouraged. In this issue, we explore strategies to improve your working relationship model—both internally and externally. In this culture of thriving, your business will grow in the process.
- Articles
- Columns
Search Console
- Links
- Media kit
||| MENU - smt007 Magazine
Inside the Minds of Gen Z
November 6, 2023 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
Gen Z employees definitely bring new skills and expectations to today’s workforce. Manufacturers, take note: You have a generation of employees who are curious about the world, love to keep busy and engaged, and just need a better understanding of why manufacturing is cool. In this roundtable discussion, recent high school graduate Dylan Nguyen and Paige Fiet, a recent university graduate, provide insight into what they’re looking for in a career. It’s an enlightening discussion.
Barry Matties: Paige and Dylan, there are some general stereotypes or perceptions about manufacturing. The pandemic raised awareness that manufacturing matters, but we're still not attracting a younger workforce, unless they’re building a Tesla car or a SpaceX rocket. What is your perception of that?
Dylan Nguyen: I did FIRST Robotics in high school and I initially came into it with a CAD specialty. But as I progressed, my focus shifted to manufacturing, where I ran the CNC machining.
From my experience, manufacturing is definitely not the first thing that students think about, even those in a STEM field. It’s a niche topic that isn't promoted as much as other fields, like software or computer-aided design. Only two people on my team were actively in the manufacturing group while the mechanical section comprised the rest of the team.
Matties: You've now been introduced to the circuit board industry at IPC APEX EXPO, so what image comes to mind when you think of manufacturing?
Nguyen: I immediately think of the inside of a shop—blue collar, lots of physical labor, and very difficult on the body.
Matties: Paige, you've chosen a career in circuit board manufacturing. How do you see manufacturing, how do Gen Zs see it, and why might you see it differently?
Paige Fiet: Manufacturing has a reputation of being kind of dirty and gross. Like Dylan said, it’s seen as hard labor. My dad is an engineer who has worked in manufacturing, and when I was a kid, I was able to run around the factory. I remember them getting their first robot arm and how excited he was that they would put in a robot. That was a big lead for me—whether consciously or subconsciously—into manufacturing.
To read this entire conversation, which appeared in the November 2023 issue of SMT007 Magazine, click here.
Suggested Items
Global Citizenship: Comparing and Contrasting the U.S. and China PCB Industries
10/23/2024 | Tom Yang -- Column: Global CitizenshipI have spent a lot of time in the U.S., and one question I am frequently asked is about the differences between the Chinese and U.S. PCB industries. It’s always an interesting question, and I will try to answer it in this month’s column. Certainly, the U.S. was the leader in PCB manufacturing, including developing the processes and technology, which it taught to the Chinese in the late 1980s and ’90s. As a result, China has become a force to be reckoned with in the global PCB market. Having been educated in America and now leading a major PCB manufacturing company in China, I have a unique vantage point when it comes to comparing the two nations’ approaches to PCB production.
Yamaha Robotics Appoints Roberto Ferraretto New Area Manager for Italy
10/23/2024 | Yamaha RoboticsYamaha Robotics SMT Section has announced that Roberto Ferraretto has joined the team as Area Manager for Italy, to support the Company’s range of printers, mounters, inspection systems, and software for high-speed surface-mount and hybrid assembly.
American Standard/Sunstone Circuits to Exhibit at the Northwest Electronics Design & Manufacturing Expo (NEDME) 2024
10/22/2024 | ASC SunstoneASC Sunstone Circuits is excited to announce that we will be exhibiting at the upcoming Northwest Electronics Design & Manufacturing Expo (NEDME) on Wednesday, October 30, 2024.
SIA Applauds CHIPS Incentives for Hemlock Manufacturing Expansion in Michigan
10/22/2024 | SIAThe Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) today released the following statement from SIA President and CEO John Neuffer applauding semiconductor manufacturing incentives announced by the U.S. Department of Commerce and Hemlock Semiconductor (HSC).
Adolfo Juri Elettronica Industriale SA Selects Delvitech’s 3D AI-based AOI Solutions
10/21/2024 | DelvitechAdolfo Juri Elettronica Industriale SA, a trusted name in Swiss electronics manufacturing for 60 years, is thrilled to announce a significant upgrade to its SMT production lines with the addition of the cutting-edge Delvitech Aton 3D AOI system.