Dan’s Biz Bookshelf: ‘The Art of Going SLOW’
Happy’s Tech Talk #39: PCBs Replace Motor Windings
Punching Out: Characteristics of Successful Leaders in North American PCB and EMS Sectors
The Data Brings Us Together
May 22, 2024 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 1 minute
IPC APEX EXPO 2024 wrapped up after a week of immersion in printed circuits and electronics manufacturing, so why did I keep thinking about wood joinery as I flew home rather than fabrication and assembly?
Dovetail joints are an elegant and effective way to create a corner joint between two pieces of wood. Done well, dovetail joints don’t require any fasteners, often get by without any glue, and the joint can withstand loads in nearly all directions. The dovetail interface itself seems simultaneously simple and complex.
While in Anaheim, I kept looking for the one key theme at the center of innovation in electronics manufacturing, but I came up empty. From my perspective, IPC APEX EXPO showcased five major areas more or less equally, with these trends dovetailing together to create a greater, stronger whole.
Trend No. 1: Accessibility
Process interoperability and automation—spurred on by big data developments—have chipped away at any previous “walled garden” data models. All that process data isn’t considered vendor-proprietary any longer, and that shift changes things. At the association level, this kind of accessibility is being reflected in the industry. Cases in point are the iNEMI/IPC collaborations on strategic market reports and the latest version of the iNEMI technology roadmap (reconfigured for easy research and made available to the public at no charge). The IPC/WHMA partnership continues to blossom as well, creating a more seamless flow between wire harnesses and assembly.
Trend No. 2: Increased collaboration
This increased accessibility can be traced to increased collaboration throughout. At IPC APEX EXPO four years ago, I asked CFX leaders, “Now that CFX is creating all this data, how do we make it useful?” At that time, the responses were visionary and a look to the future. Now, companies from a variety of sectors are working together to move that data up the stack from sensor to data to analytics to action.
To read this entire article, which appeared in the 2024 issue of Show & Tell Magazine, click here.
Share on:
Suggested Items
Priority Software Announces the New, Game-Changing aiERP
06/12/2025 | Priority SoftwarePriority Software Ltd., a leading global provider of ERP and business management software announces its revolutionary aiERP, leveraging the power of AI to transform business operations.
Breaking Silos with Intelligence: Connectivity of Component-level Data Across the SMT Line
06/09/2025 | Dr. Eyal Weiss, CybordAs the complexity and demands of electronics manufacturing continue to rise, the smart factory is no longer a distant vision; it has become a necessity. While machine connectivity and line-level data integration have gained traction in recent years, one of the most overlooked opportunities lies in the component itself. Specifically, in the data captured just milliseconds before a component is placed onto the PCB, which often goes unexamined and is permanently lost once reflow begins.
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
06/06/2025 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007Maybe you’ve noticed that I’ve been taking to social media lately to about my five must-reads of the week. It’s just another way we’re sharing our curated content with you. I pay special attention to what’s happening in our industry, and I can help you know what’s most important to read about each week. Follow me (and I-Connect007) on LinkedIn to see these and other updates.
UHDI Fundamentals: UHDI Drives Unique IoT Innovation—Smart Homes
06/03/2025 | Anaya Vardya, American Standard CircuitsThe combination of UHDI's high-bandwidth capabilities and IoT's real-time data processing can lead to more efficient, immersive, and smarter IoT systems. This convergence of two revolutionary technologies is enabling quantum advancements in some very “unconventional” applications.
Global Smart Manufacturing Market Size to Reach $787.54 Billion by 2030
06/02/2025 | PRNewswireThe global Smart Manufacturing Market Size is projected to be valued at USD 297.20 billion in 2023 and reach $787.54 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 14.9% according to a new report by The Research Insights.