-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- pcb007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueDon’t Just Survive, Thrive
If we are to be relevant and prosper during these next critical decades in electronics, we must do more than survive. As an industry, we can and must thrive. In this issue, our contributors explore these concepts meant to help you take your business to the next level.
Material Matters
Materials management is nuanced, multifaceted, and requires a holistic systems approach for business success. When building high mix, low volume, and high technology, managing materials and overall cost containment are even greater challenges.
Additive Manufacturing
In this month’s issue, we explore additive manufacturing technology for the PCB fabricator: where it stands today, the true benefits, and where it seems to be headed.
- Articles
- Columns
Search Console
- Links
- Events
||| MENU - pcb007 Magazine
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
January 26, 2024 | Marcy LaRont, PCB007 MagazineEstimated reading time: 3 minutes
![](https://iconnect007.com/application/files/9816/9086/9878/Top5_picks.jpg)
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 Knowledge Base: The Value of Industry Certifications
07/24/2024 | Mike Konrad -- Column: The Knowledge BaseIndustry certifications have become increasingly significant in the modern job market, offering a range of benefits to both individuals and employers. These certifications serve as formal recognitions of expertise and proficiency in specific areas, validating a person's skills and knowledge. In the context of the electronics assembly industry, certifications are particularly valuable, given the technical nature of the work and the rapid advancements in technology.
American Standard Circuits to Exhibit at Space and Missile Defense Symposium 2024
07/22/2024 | American Standard CircuitsAmerican Standard Circuits will be exhibiting at The Space and Missile Defense Symposium 2024 (SMD 2024), Aug. 6-8, 2024, at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
Tom Edman Leads IPC Board of Directors
07/17/2024 | Marcy LaRont, PCB007 MagazineIPC elected several new board members at IPC APEX EXPO in April, including new Board Chair Tom Edman, CEO of TTM, who assumes the role from Bob Neves, CTO and chair of Microtek Laboratories. Tom and TTM have long been active in many facets of IPC. I caught up with Tom and asked him about his new board appointment, IPC, and the industry he serves. He emphasizes IPC’s work in standards and advocacy as especially important for our industry.
Winners of 2024 IPC Masters Competition China Announced
07/17/2024 | IPCFrom July 8-10, the 2024 IPC Masters Competition China was successfully held in Pudong, Shanghai. This year’s competition, was the largest in the history of the Greater China region, bringing nearly 400 electronics industry elites from 18 provinces and municipalities.
JEDEC Approaches Finalization of HBM4 Standard, Eyes Future Innovations
07/15/2024 | JEDECJEDEC Solid State Technology Association, the global leader in the development of standards for the microelectronics industry, announced it is nearing completion of the next version of its highly anticipated High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) DRAM standard: HBM4.