Give Yourself an Edge at the IPC High Reliability Forum 2024

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

For those who support military and defense products, few topics are more important than reliability, particularly as we venture into complex packaging requirements that accommodate next-gen chips and electronic systems. Recently, I visited with Teresa Rowe, IPC senior director, assembly and standards technology, to discuss the IPC High Reliability Forum (HRF), Oct. 9-10, at the McKimmon Center, in Raleigh, North Carolina. With topics that cover high-voltage electronics, standardized test methods, and assembly and solder joint X-ray challenges, it is clear that this event needs to be included on your annual conference calendar.

Marcy LaRont: Teresa, I'm excited to learn about the High Reliability Forum. Can we start with some background of the event?

Teresa Rowe: The IPC High Reliability Forum started many years ago but, like so many other events around the world, fell off during COVID. We brought it back to life last year and had an extremely good turnout. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive.

LaRont: Why did you choose Raleigh?

Rowe: Traditionally, the forum has been a standalone in Baltimore, Maryland. This year, it is co-located with IPC Builds, our annual standards committee event in Raleigh, Oct. 5-10. It made sense to co-locate so that as many of the participants at IPC Builds who wanted to could also attend the High Reliability Forum. It provides a break for travel budgets or if you’re deciding to do only one or the other. We are trying something new, and we’re excited about the outcome.

LaRont: So, what’s in store at the HRF this year?

Rowe: We will have several presentations on technical topics that cover high-reliability issues in PCB design, PCB fabrication materials, assembly, surface reliability, emerging technologies, and more. Some of the presenters come from companies including Zestron, Lockheed Martin, the U.S. Army, Robert Bosch GmbH, Microtek, and more.

Traditionally, we approached topics in market silos, like high reliability in military, automotive, medical, e-Mobility, etc. This year, we have a bit of a twist. Our first session will bring the old and the new together when looking at voiding and other challenges on that spectrum. Here’s the thinking: We’ve seen voiding with older products, and we see it in newer products. Now, we’ve set the stage for a conversation that includes the history and what is current.

LaRont: That sounds like a unique and engaging approach.

Rowe: For high voltage, we took a slightly different approach. In our discussions with industry over time, we found that high voltage has varying definitions in different parts of the world and with different products. So, we just asked, “Is it high voltage?” We'll hear presentations on that.

We also asked, “What’s new now?” and with that, we will bring in some new topics to consider regarding e-textiles and other advanced technologies and design activities. Then we'll move on to testing and its related challenges. When we’ve heard about the issues and challenges from industry, we’ve seen consistent threads and similar stories. The HRF will bring industry experts together for a point/counterpoint on different topics, how to address them, and things to consider.

We have built a program that will make you think about these topics differently and how to apply them now and in the future. We want to give you an immediate takeaway, and how we present the information is important.

LaRont: I appreciate that approach as well as the way you elevate the involvement of students and young professionals.

Rowe: These two events take place at the McKimmon Center at North Carolina State University, where we've asked students at NC State and surrounding universities to participate in a poster session. Students will present their posters and be available for conversations about them during the Tuesday evening networking reception event.

In another session, “How do 80-year test methods and technology based on 40-year-old data play into the current industry?” we will have a conversation between a new graduate of the IPC Emerging Engineer program (and dedicated committee volunteer) and a longtime expert in conformal coatings. It will be fascinating to hear their opinions and perspectives on that.

LaRont: That sounds like something not to be missed.

Rowe: Absolutely. We are excited about it, and to be honest, we are excited each of these sessions. We have put a lot of thought into what the forum would offer and how it would be presented. We anticipate these conversations will continue when attendees leave the front door.

LaRont: Teresa, what is the tie-in between the HRF and standards development?

Rowe: The conference is co-located with IPC Builds, and we expect to find many forum participants also sitting on standards committees. There will be tie-ins to standards requirements throughout the presentations. In the point/counterpoint sessions, there will naturally be conversations about certain standards and how industry members interpret those requirements differently. That will drive important discussions.

LaRont: Why should someone consider registering for this event?

Rowe: Consider the importance of capitalizing on opportunities to hear from your industry, not only listening to technical paper presentations but also the real-life experiences and the challenges you’re faced with in your everyday manufacturing environment. Our goal is not to just rehash what you’ve heard before, but to have presenters who focus on the topics in a unique way. We want you to see how these vital topics play into your world. Our vast list of participants includes EMS providers, trainers, with representatives from mil-aero, the automotive industry, and more.

When it comes to high reliability, it's important to take a broad look. Though the areas and audiences may be dramatically different, the challenges can be the same. Listen to and learn from each other. Your car likely has a computerized system, but it's very different than that laptop you're carrying around. In the same vein, it’s a pleasant surprise when you learn something from a segment of the industry that you might not have anything to do with.

LaRont: Very well said, Teresa, and we look forward to this great event.

Learn more about the event here.

Register for the event here.