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Much Ado About Factory of the Future
March 13, 2024 | Chris Jorgensen, IPCEstimated reading time: 2 minutes

For attendees looking for guidance on modernizing their manufacturing, IPC APEX EXPO 2024 will provide plenty of opportunities to learn about the latest innovations and how to begin applying them in your operations today.
Get Connected
Think you know all there is to know about IPC-CFX, how to implement it, and the myriad benefits you can reap from it? IPC APEX EXPO will provide the latest updates on this plug-and-play shop floor communication standard and how to put yourself on the path to success.
When walking the show floor, look for the IPC-CFX flags at vendor booths. These are equipment vendors who know the importance of IPC-CFX for their customers and the industry, and have demonstrated proficiency in IPC-CFX implementations.
These vendors will represent a large portion of the more than 90 pieces of equipment on the IPC-CFX-2591 Qualified Products List (QPL). Ask them about their implementations and how IPC-CFX can benefit your operations.
Want to peek behind the curtain at plans for IPC-CFX Version 2.0? Attend the IPC-CFX Standard Task Group meeting, 10:15 a.m. to noon Monday, April 8. The task group has a lot in store for this full-version update, including the addition of capabilities for dispensing equipment, hand soldering stations, and wave soldering machines, not to mention support for getting IPC-CFX into existing lines with legacy equipment.
Analyze That
Is your company getting the most out of the data flowing through your operations? As our industry evolves to meet new challenges and respond to more complex demands for electronic devices, there is an increasing need to use manufacturing data to improve the way our operations are run.
Get a leg up on best practices for understanding and analyzing the data from your equipment to help you respond to problems faster or before they happen. Attend the professional development course, “Introduction to Machine Data Analytics in the EMS Industry,” led by Tim Burke, PhD, chief technology officer, Arch Systems Inc. This course, on Monday, April 8, will use anonymized data sets from real-world SMT equipment for students to learn how to read and analyze the data and then contextualize it for their factories.
Visit IPC booth #4420 Tuesday through Thursday to grab your free copy of the new IPC Industry Intelligence white paper, “Outlook for Data Analytics in the Electronics Manufacturing Industry.” This white paper provides a nuts-and-bolts approach to the need for data analytics with EMS companies and provides a top-five list of data analytics use cases.
Continue reading this article in the March 2024 issue of SMT007 Magazine.
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Rachael Temple - AlltematedSuggested Items
Knocking Down the Bone Pile: Revamp Your Components with BGA Reballing
10/14/2025 | Nash Bell -- Column: Knocking Down the Bone PileBall grid array (BGA) components evolved from pin grid array (PGA) devices, carrying over many of the same electrical benefits while introducing a more compact and efficient interconnect format. Instead of discrete leads, BGAs rely on solder balls on the underside of the package to connect to the PCB. In some advanced designs, solder balls are on both the PCB and the BGA package. In stacked configurations, such as package-on-package (PoP), these solder balls also interconnect multiple packages, enabling higher functionality in a smaller footprint.
New Course Presents a Comprehensive Guide to IPC Standards
10/10/2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007Francisco Fourcade, electronics technology standards manager for the Global Electronics Association, has spent years helping companies understand and implement the standards that keep the electronics manufacturing industry moving forward. In this interview, he shares updates on ongoing standards development efforts and previews a new course, "IPC Standards: A Guide for the Electronics Industry,” which starts Oct. 14.
North American EMS Industry Shipments Down 1.4% in August
10/02/2025 | Global Electronics AssociationThe Global Electronics Association announced the August 2025 findings from its North American Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) Statistical Program. The book-to-bill ratio stands at 1.26.
North American PCB Industry Sales Up 12.8% in August
10/02/2025 | Global Electronics AssociationThe Global Electronics Association announced the August 2025 findings from its North American Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Statistical Program. The book-to-bill ratio stands at 0.98.
Industry Leaders Shape a Sustainable Future at 2025 IPC CEMAC Electronics Manufacturing Annual Conference
09/30/2025 | Global Electronics AssociationThe 2025 IPC CEMAC Electronics Manufacturing Annual Conference, co-hosted by the Global Electronics Association and the Shanghai Pudong Association for Quality and Technology, successfully concluded on September 26 in Shanghai.