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Beyond the Rulebook
What happens when the rule book is no longer useful, or worse, was never written in the first place? In today’s fast-moving electronics landscape, we’re increasingly asked to design and build what has no precedent, no proven path, and no tidy checklist to follow. This is where “Design for Invention” begins.
March Madness
From the growing role of AI in design tools to the challenge of managing cumulative tolerances, these articles in this issue examine the technical details, design choices, and manufacturing considerations that determine whether a board works as intended.
Looking Forward to APEX EXPO 2026
I-Connect007 Magazine previews APEX EXPO 2026, covering everything from the show floor to the technical conference. For PCB designers, we move past the dreaded auto-router and spotlight AI design tools that actually matter.
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Are You Ready to Thrive? Keep an Open Mind
July 24, 2024 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Anaya Vardya joined American Standard Circuits in 2007, and his leadership strategy has focused on teamwork, technological advancement, and a strong marketing strategy. He leans on his extensive industry background and is inspired by former Intel CEO Andrew Grove, whose philosophy centered on proactive adaptability and emphasized thriving over mere survival.
Anaya champions a management style rooted in trust, empowerment, and change readiness, ensuring continuous growth and innovation in the competitive PCB manufacturing sector.
Anaya, what was your biggest challenge when you came to ASC, and how did you manage it?
The company was started in 1988, and I came in 2007. At that time, we had two facilities shipping about $10 million. The majority of the product was very basic technology. One of the two facilities also had RF capabilities. However, a majority of that business was in 4–5 volume part numbers. There was little or no marketing at that time, and most of the sales were made word-of-mouth. My role was to modernize the systems, update the technology, and grow the business. I had previously worked at several larger PCB facilities, such as IBM, UCI Continental Circuits, Merix, and Coretec, so I had developed a good experience base that helped me develop a clear vision of what American Standard Circuits could be.
We made a change early on: consolidating the two operations. This was an interesting experience since one was run like a mom-and-pop shop, and the other was an MIL-certified facility. Early on, we needed to navigate the clash of cultures.
We then worked on improving and growing our technology. Our first challenge was implementing flex and rigid-flex PCBs. Since then we have been continuously engaged in improving our technology offerings.
To read this entire conversation, which appeared in the July 2024 issue of PCB007 Magazine, click here.
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Julia McCaffrey - NCAB GroupSuggested Items
The Journey from Dilution to Zero Liquid Discharge
05/11/2026 | Richard Nichols, GreenSource EngineeringIf you’re familiar with the PCB industry, and a little long in the tooth like me, you may remember the cry, “The water board is here!” (or an equivalent authority). This was the signal for a frantic but regularly rehearsed exercise to turn on all the rinses. This anecdote demonstrates that in the early days of PCB production, prevailing practices revolved around a “dilution is the solution” mentality, in which manufacturers used copious amounts of water to dilute contaminants before discharging them into regulated municipal wastewater systems or natural water bodies.
Hall of Fame Spotlight Series: Highlighting Karen McConnell
05/07/2026 | Dan Feinberg, I-Connect007In 2021, Karen McConnell was awarded the Raymond E. Pritchard Hall of Fame award in recognition of her contributions to the Association and the electronics industry. As a senior staff member and CAD/CAM engineer at Northrop Grumman Enterprise Services, her primary responsibility was to develop a common, shared EDM (Electronic Document Management) library to support the electrical and PCB design tool initiatives across Northrop Grumman Mission Systems.
A Necessary Shift From Gerber to IPC-2581
05/07/2026 | Tracy Riggan, Global Electronics AssociationIPC-2581 is an open, vendor-neutral data exchange standard developed by the Global Electronics Association to streamline the exchange of PCB design information across fabrication, assembly, and test. It replaces multiple legacy formats—including industry standards, Gerber, and ODB++—with a single, comprehensive, XML-based dataset that captures all manufacturing details.
When Quality Is Personal: The Human Stakes Behind Electronics Reliability
05/06/2026 | Kelly DackIn electronics manufacturing, quality is often discussed in terms of specifications, standards, and process controls, but as industry veteran Doug Pauls reminds us, the stakes are far more human. In this conversation, Doug, a recipient of the Global Electronics Association’s Hall of Fame Award, draws on more than four decades of experience to illuminate the real-world consequences of reliability, where even a single defect can carry profound implications. He brings into sharp focus why quality isn’t just a metric, but a responsibility shared by everyone on the manufacturing floor.
PCBAA, AAM Take on the Fight to Rebuild U.S. Manufacturing in New Documentary
05/05/2026 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007Throughout most of the 20th century, manufacturing was central to the American Dream of providing stable jobs and pathways to upward mobility. Today, more than 80% of global electronics manufacturing capacity resides in China and greater Asia, raising serious concerns about supply chain resilience and national security.