Powering the Future: Why True Ceramic Circuits Are Not Just ‘Better PCBs’
Global Sourcing Spotlight: The Global Quality Gap—Why Consistency Wins the Contract
Knocking Down the Bone Pile: Precision Milling of Underfilled SMT Components
The fast pace of innovation in the electronics manufacturing industry means business owners must continuously adapt their processes and capabilities to meet changing customer demands and market trends. To that end, IPC has hired Thiago Guimaraes as the new director of Industry Intelligence. In this interview, Thiago shares key goals and objectives that could revolutionize the industry as he helps stakeholders navigate industry trends and challenges.
Thiago’s goals include developing comprehensive regional and global reports, focusing on specific verticals like automotive and medical, and addressing technology-oriented topics such as advanced packaging, Industry 4.0, automation, and AI.
Thiago, could you share a bit about your background and how it led you to IPC?
Thiago Guimaraes: My background is a mix of academic and market research, client management, and business strategy. I started my career as a research analyst, where I was often challenged to not just analyze data but to answer the critical "so what" question—translating findings into actionable insights. My work was industry agnostic, spanning, among others, gaming, consumer tech, and building materials. As my career progressed, I found myself focusing more on industrial manufacturing—the technologies that are behind the products we use every day but often don’t think about. Many of my clients were in the middle of the value chain, making components that the average consumer wouldn't recognize, but make use of in most things they do.
I see this opportunity at IPC as a chance to further develop a dedicated research function, which is right up my alley. But it certainly sweetened the deal that IPC is at the core of an industry that underpins so many aspects of how the world operates. From farming equipment to transportation and defense to healthcare, you name it—electronics manufacturing touches almost every facet of our lives. Being part of this critical ecosystem is a really compelling opportunity.
Continue reading this interview in the Spring 2025 issue of IPC Community.
