-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- design007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueSignal Integrity
If you don’t have signal integrity problems now, you will eventually. This month, our expert contributors share a variety of SI techniques that can help designers avoid ground bounce, crosstalk, parasitic issues, and much more.
Proper Floor Planning
Floor planning decisions can make or break performance, manufacturability, and timelines. This month’s contributors weigh in with their best practices for proper floor planning and specific strategies to get it right.
Showing Some Constraint
A strong design constraint strategy carefully balances a wide range of electrical and manufacturing trade-offs. This month, we explore the key requirements, common challenges, and best practices behind building an effective constraint strategy.
- Articles
- Columns
- Links
- Media kit
||| MENU - design007 Magazine
Standard of Friendship: Debbie McDade and Symon Franklin Went From Classmates to Colleagues
August 27, 2025 | Debbie McDade, Advanced Rework Technology Ltd.Estimated reading time: 1 minute

As a fairly new IPC Master Trainer, I nervously attended my first IPC committee meeting in 2002 in New Orleans—a 4,600-mile trip from my home in the UK—for the IPC-610 Task Group. With more than 250 members, it was the largest IPC committee at that time.
Despite those initial nerves, the experience highlighted the importance of involvement in IPC standards task groups. Since then, I have gained knowledge and long-lasting friendships.
During my training classes, regardless of the level of the class, I always draw my students’ attention to the acknowledgment pages (I like to call them the “thank you” pages) that recognize the committee members for their hard work and dedication in helping to write the documents. My students are often amazed, telling me, “We thought that the Global Electronics Association wrote the standards and associated training programs.”
For example, I am vice chair of the 7-30 Product Assurance groups, vice chair of V-TPAC, Global Training, and chair of European Standards Development and European Training groups. I offer my personal thanks to all those committee members for their efforts.
A True Example of Leadership
Symon Franklin, Custom Interconnect Ltd, UK, is a dedicated colleague who truly understands the benefits of committee participation, and how it leads to a better understanding of standards, professional growth, and the opportunity to influence the industry.
Symon probably rolls his eyes with boredom because I love retelling his story, but I can’t underestimate its value in reinforcing the benefits of IPC committee participation.
The story starts with a new Certified IPC Trainer class I was teaching. During the morning introductions, one student said, “My name is Symon…” Before he could even finish, I replied, “Symon Franklin?” At this point, we realized who each other was and we had known each other since we were 11 years old. We attended high school together and then went our separate ways after graduating. Little did we know that our paths were not that different.
Read the rest of their story in the Summer 2025 issue of Community Magazine.
Testimonial
"Our marketing partnership with I-Connect007 is already delivering. Just a day after our press release went live, we received a direct inquiry about our updated products!"
Rachael Temple - AlltematedSuggested Items
North American EMS Industry Shipments Down 1.4% in August
10/02/2025 | Global Electronics AssociationThe Global Electronics Association announced the August 2025 findings from its North American Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) Statistical Program. The book-to-bill ratio stands at 1.26.
North American PCB Industry Sales Up 12.8% in August
10/02/2025 | Global Electronics AssociationThe Global Electronics Association announced the August 2025 findings from its North American Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Statistical Program. The book-to-bill ratio stands at 0.98.
Industry Leaders Shape a Sustainable Future at 2025 IPC CEMAC Electronics Manufacturing Annual Conference
09/30/2025 | Global Electronics AssociationThe 2025 IPC CEMAC Electronics Manufacturing Annual Conference, co-hosted by the Global Electronics Association and the Shanghai Pudong Association for Quality and Technology, successfully concluded on September 26 in Shanghai.
Winners of Hand Soldering and Wire Harness Competitions Announced at NEPCON Vietnam 2025
09/24/2025 | Global Electronics AssociationIn conjunction with NEPCON Vietnam 2025, the Global Electronics Association hosted its popular Hand Soldering Competition on September 11–12, 2025, and the Northen regional round of the Wire Harness Competition on September 10, 2025, in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Global Electronics Association Strengthens Role as Industry Convener, Announces Upcoming Events to Advance Innovation and Collaboration
09/22/2025 | Global Electronics AssociationThe Global Electronics Association launches a series of flagship events to convene leaders of a $6T industry as they navigate new technologies, AI implementation, supply chain resiliency and more.