Flexible Thinking: Rules of Thumb: A Word to the Wise
Happy’s Tech Talk #29: Bend-to-Install Semi-flex FR-4
Connect the Dots: Five Best Practices for Designing Flex and Rigid-flex PCBs
Thinking Out of the Box: Pacific Northwest EMS Manufacturer Employs Successful Strategies With IPC
October 15, 2024 | Michelle Te, IPC CommunityEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Allison and Chad Budvarson started Out of the Box Manufacturing, an EMS company in Renton, Washington, just one month after they were married in 2008. To stay competitive, they’ve utilized IPC’s workforce subscription and apprenticeship programs to train and maintain their staff.
Allison, could you give us a brief history of your company?
Allison Budvarson: Out of the Box Manufacturing specializes in PCBA, box build, and cable assembly. We offer quick turns and prototypes for aerospace and defense customers, which are not widely available. We also offer small- to mid-size or small- to mid-volume manufacturing for the commercial aerospace and defense industry. Chad is an engineer and our CEO. My focus is on talent development, and sales and marketing.
We want to employ a group of entrepreneurial-minded employees because we think that elevates the engagement of our staff, which in turn provides better service for our customers. We like to say we do the hard things fast and support our customers as they move into higher volumes or revisions as their product becomes more stable.
What factors influenced you to work with IPC?
Our relationship with IPC has evolved over the past several years. Initially, we saw IPC for its standards. But when I started attending the EMS Leadership Summit at APEX EXPO, I realized there was so much more to IPC, which opened more doors for us, creating growth and partnership opportunities I didn't realize were possible. For one, I like having frank conversations with EMS owners from other areas of the country, and I’m not worried they will steal my “secret sauce.”
It’s nice to know that we’re not alone in our struggles as business owners. I’m still a fairly young owner, so it helps to pick the brains of those who have been in the business for much longer. Tapping into that industry experience has been phenomenal.
To read the rest of this article, which appeared in the Fall 2024 issue of IPC Community, click here.
Share on:
Suggested Items
Winners of IPC Hand Soldering World Championship at electronica 2024 Announced
11/21/2024 | IPCIPC hosted its Hand Soldering World Championship in Munich, Germany, at electronica on 14-15 November 2024, welcoming 14 competitors from 13 companies and 12 countries worldwide. Skilled contestants competed to build an electronics assembly in accordance with IPC-A-610 Class 3 criteria, and were judged on the functionality of the assembly, compliance with the assembly process and overall product quality. The contestants were allowed a maximum of 60 minutes to complete the assembly.
IPC Issues Clarion Call for EU to Reclaim Leadership in Electronics Manufacturing
11/21/2024 | IPCIPC released a synopsis of its recent white paper, Securing the European Union’s Electronics Ecosystem. This condensed document presents a comprehensive overview of the current challenges in Europe’s electronics manufacturing industry and shares actionable steps to help the EU achieve a stronger, more autonomous ecosystem.
Enjoy the Journey: PCB Design Instructor Kris Moyer on His Sustainable Lifestyle
11/19/2024 | Michelle Te, IPC CommunityWhen I contacted IPC design instructor Kris Moyer to discuss his sustainable lifestyle, he responded to my text with a call. "I'm calling you from about 8,000 feet, sitting at the foot of Mammoth Lakes," he told me. “My friends and I are about to get in the pool for the afternoon." Kris can do this because he actually lives full-time in his travel-trailer at this campground. He's now a permanent camper, taking him anywhere the winds blow—and where there's strong internet service—so he can teach his PCB design classes, offer expert interviews, and live off the land.
IPC Celebrates National Apprenticeship Week with a Focus on Electronics Manufacturing Excellence
11/19/2024 | IPCIPC, a leading global electronics industry association and source for industry standards, training and advocacy, is proud to announce its participation in National Apprenticeship Week, scheduled for November 17-23, 2024.
IPC Introduces First Standard for In-Mold Electronics
11/18/2024 | IPCIPC announces the release of IPC-8401, Guidelines for In-Mold Electronics. IPC-8401 addresses in-mold electronics (IME) technology, providing industry consensus on guidelines for manufacturing processes, part structures, material selection, and production test methods to integrate printed electronics and components into 3D smart structures.