Review: PCEA Orange County Summer Meeting

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

The Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA) represents a community of engineers, designers, and industry influencers dedicated to the advancement of PCB technology, design, and manufacturing, and the growth and knowledge of its membership.

PCEA regularly hosts events for management, process engineers, and suppliers from various corners of the industry to share the latest developments, best practices, and visions for the future of electronic design and manufacturing. The Orange County chapter seems to be one of the largest and most active ones and I was invited to attend the latest chapter event on July 24 in Costa Mesa, California.

We started with lunch, which is a great opportunity to say hello, and discuss industry status, new processes and products. During lunch, the new leadership team was introduced. They explained their goal to provide resources, networking opportunities, and professional development for the members. They want to embrace innovation, not only in design and manufacturing, but also in standards development, sustainability, and talent cultivation within the industry.

After lunch, our first speaker was Stephen Chavez, whose presentation focused on best practices in PCB design, including optimizing engineering to maximize manufacturing efficiencies. He emphasized the need for more process engineers and discussed engineering goals such as minimizing the risk and maximizing the reliability when designing. He further explained the high value of design up front rather than having to fix poor design efficiencies found after the device is manufactured.

Chavez spoke about the accelerating demand for high density interconnect (HDI) boards, driven by the proliferation of compact devices like smartphones, wearables, and IoT solutions. He said miniaturization is affecting design complexity, requiring advanced simulation tools and tighter tolerances in both fabrication and assembly. The rise of flexible and rigid-flex circuits means new opportunities in medical devices, automotive electronics, and aerospace applications. 

Other speakers during the event addressed the environmental impact of PCB production, from raw material sourcing to end-of-life disposal and especially of design for manufacturing (DFM). They explored new eco-friendly materials, recycling initiatives, and the adoption of closed-loop manufacturing systems that minimize waste. They also spoke about the critical role of education in maintaining industry excellence.

We learned about certification programs, such as IPC Designer Certification, and initiatives to attract new talent to the field, including university partnerships, mentorship opportunities, and outreach to underrepresented groups. We were encouraged to share our knowledge and experiences, nurturing the next generation of PCB engineers.

Finally, a panel discussion debated the roadmap for the industry’s future:

• The growing intersection of electronics and software, particularly as embedded systems become more complex and interconnected.
• Cybersecurity concerns in connected devices, and the need for secure-by-design practices at both hardware and firmware levels.
• Supply chain resilience, including strategies for multi-sourcing and onshoring critical components.
• The potential of quantum computing and photonic circuits, and what these technological leaps might mean for traditional PCB design paradigms.
• Globalization versus localization: how shifting economic and political landscapes may alter where and how PCBs are designed and manufactured.

The Orange County event offered a good view of the state of printed circuit engineering today, blending technical rigor with a forward-looking perspective. You learn about new design and manufacturing, meet industry leaders and associates, and discover opportunities that will accelerate your place and growth in the industry and advance your career more rapidly.

See you at the next one?

Dan Feinberg is a technical editor at I-Connect007 and founder of Fein-Lines Associates.