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I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
January 26, 2024 | Marcy LaRont, PCB007 MagazineEstimated reading time: 3 minutes

Believe it or not, it’s nearly February. Though January always seems to start out slow post-holiday, it also seems to end in a flurry of news and activity across all sectors. Staying true to that, this late January week of news and information is a clear signal that we are now fully immersed in the new year, and have a lot to accomplish. Here are my picks for this week’s must-read articles, columns, and news.
Dana on Data: Nuke the Netlist
Published January 18
I’m not gonna lie, the inflammatory title of Dana Korf’s most recent column drew me in. (Why do I have an image of Steve Buscemi in "Armageddon?") In this column, Dana broaches the issue of whether it is time to retire the long-held gold standard for Gerber data output, the IPC-D-356 netlist. “Some things/people do get better with age: wine, whiskey, Harrison Ford. Some things don’t get better with age: apples, bananas, IPC standards.” Of course, Dana is referring specifically to the IPC-D-356 standard, and as all good engineers do, he proposes a solution for how to move forward more effectively.
Nearshoring: Mexico Making Pivotal Move in Supply Chain Dynamics
Published January 23
Nearshoring is the next best thing to onshoring for supply chain resiliency. I’m old enough to remember when maquiladoras were just coming into fashion but never quite took off as Asia beckoned with significantly cheaper pricing and a ready workforce (or lots of people available to be trained, in any case). But today, Mexico is where the action is, or so says IPC’s chief economist, Shawn Dubravac, in his article in the Winter issue of IPC Community. Forty percent of the $102 billion announced for investment in Mexico in just the first nine months of 2023 originated from U.S. companies.
Driving Operational Efficiencies at Summit Interconnect
Published January 23
Barry Matties' interview with Summit Interconnect’s Sean Patterson showcases a robust discussion and a lot of wisdom about all things related to U.S. PCB fabrication. Summit is one of the largest PCB fabricators in the United States and has grown tremendously over the past couple of years through both acquisition and organic growth, which presents its own brand of technology and culture challenges. Sean speaks freely about all of these things and highlights the need for us to be better at recruiting and training young people in our industry. If you have not yet had a chance to read this article, I encourage you to do so.
Talking Digital Twin and DFT with Aster
Published January 25
Dean Poplett, technical director at Aster Technologies, talks DFT and digital twin with Barry Matties. As Poplett explains, “Digital twin allows a machine in the real world to predict what a machine will do to the design we have on the table in front of us. If we have it with the entire line, then we can make all the predictions for the real-world scenario before we get there.” But as Dean also points out, easier said than done. Aster presents its TestWave software as a better and more complete answer to some of the challenges surrounding an effective and complete DFT. If you are interested in improving your process yields and slip rates (and who isn’t), you will want to read this.
It's Only Common Sense: Great Customer Service Stories
Published January 22
Let’s call this our “Friday Feel Good” item. Dan Beaulieu’s most recent column, It's Only Common Sense, continues to provide us with common sense wisdom and best practices to keep the single most important part of our businesses—the customer/supplier relationship—in the forefront where it belongs. In Dan’s most recent column, he uses some great examples outside of our industry to highlight what a gold-standard customer service experience looks like. Dan’s work and writing provide insight into why we must craft our company cultures and business practices and develop our employee training around making these experiences an ongoing reality for our own customers. Are your employees empowered to deliver a truly great customer experience?
Suggested Items
The Global Electronics Association Releases IPC-8911: First-Ever Conductive Yarn Standard for E-Textile Application
07/02/2025 | Global Electronics AssociationThe Global Electronics Association announces the release of IPC-8911, Requirements for Conductive Yarns for E-Textiles Applications. This first-of-its-kind global standard establishes a clear framework for classifying, designating, and qualifying conductive yarns—helping to address longstanding challenges in supply chain communication, product testing, and material selection within the growing e-textiles industry.
New IPC VP Joe Schneider Building Stronger Focus on U.S., Canada
06/19/2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007IPC has hired Joe Schneider as a vice president to strengthen its regional focus and address the specific needs in the U.S. and Canada. Joe brings a rich background in OEM and contract manufacturing, including with industry giants like Siemens and Abbott Laboratories. In this interview, he shares his vision for the region, which emphasizes workforce development and supply chain challenges.
American Standard Circuits to Exhibit at IMS 2025
06/12/2025 | American Standard CircuitsAnaya Vardya, President and CEO of American Standard Circuits & ASC Sunstone Circuits, announced that his companies will exhibit at the IEEE International Microwave Symposium (IMS 2025), taking place June 15-20, 2025, at San Francisco’s Moscone Center.
IPC Releases Latest Standards and Revisions Updates
06/05/2025 | IPCEach quarter, IPC releases a list of standards that are new or have been updated. To view a complete list of newly published standards and standards revisions, translations, proposed standards for ballot, final drafts for industry review, working drafts, and project approvals, visit ipc.org/status. These are the latest releases for Q1 2025.
Standards: The Roadmap for Your Ideal Data Package
05/29/2025 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007 MagazineIn this interview, IPC design instructor Kris Moyer explains how standards can help you ensure that your data package has all the information your fabricator and assembler need to build your board the way you designed it, allowing them to use their expertise. As Kris says, even with IPC standards, there’s still an art to conveying the right information in your documentation.