Navigating Change, Mitigating Risk: We’ve Been Here Before

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

At IPC APEX EXPO 2025, industry leaders gathered to assess the evolving economic landscape influenced by recent political shifts and global trade dynamics, in addition to exploring technology and process innovation.

I visited with Tom Edman, president and CEO of TTM Technologies, and chair of the IPC Board of Directors. Tom candidly shares his insights into the implications of changes on the defense sector and the broader electronics manufacturing industry, especially concerning PCB manufacturing. With half of TTM’s business tied to defense, Tom discusses the potential opportunities and challenges arising from government initiatives, tariffs, and supply chain complexities. His perspective highlights the importance of adaptability and collaboration with customers to navigate this intricate environment successfully.

Marcy LaRont: Tom, with the almost daily changes in Washington, D.C., what is the state of business for TTM?

Tom Edman: These changes are always interesting. Particularly as a company with almost half of our business in defense, we watch the happenings in Washington very closely. Of course, we think about the potential influence of the changes being made, of which I will highlight just a few.

One is the DOGE effort, which hasn't reached the Department of Defense yet, but it will. As DOGE and other efficiency efforts look at the Pentagon, there are several areas with opportunities for improvement that could benefit everyone. One in particular is tied to the federal government’s purchasing process, which is really challenging today for our global competitiveness. It is something worth addressing.

Many of our customers are major prime contractors to the defense department, so depending on how hard that drive for efficiency is, these contractors may look differently at the choice of whether to outsource or build within their own captive facilities. To the extent that the pendulum swings toward outsourcing, and given our product capabilities, it could be an opportunity for TTM. That's an area that we're watching closely.

Two other potential opportunities for TTM are also worth mentioning. First, the Golden Dome project in the United States, which is planned to focus on missile defense systems, plays right into TTM’s strength of radar technology. Second, increased defense spending outside the U.S. will likely have to significantly rely on U.S. prime contractors.

To read the entire interview, which originally appeared in the April 2025 PCB007 Magazine, click here.