Nolan’s Notes: Everyone Has Their Eye on India
Standard of Excellence: The Human Touch in an Automated World
The Government Circuit: Navigating New Trade Headwinds and New Partnerships
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
September 5, 2025 | Andy Shaughnessy, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
It’s almost fall here in Atlanta, and that means that the temperature is finally dropping. And it quit raining! It’s been raining since March, and I’m so over it, as the social influencers say. Last night we grilled out on the deck, and it wasn’t hot, and we didn’t get rained on. Life is good.
It was a busy week in the industry. In this installment of my must-reads, we say goodbye to Walt Custer, the man who made PCB data points interesting for the rest of us. Speaking of data, we have a look at the results of a survey that asked EMS companies to compare what they need from their software with what they actually get.
We have news about the new Design Village that will be launching at APEX EXPO next year, and Denny Fritz does a deep dive into CHIPS Act spending and potential cuts. And IPC instructor Kris Moyer discusses his upcoming six-week class on designing PCBs with emerging technologies. If you’re a senior designer, this should be on your schedule.
Talk to you all soon.
Walt Custer: Making Data Interesting
Published September 3
The industry lost another star this week. Walt Custer passed away August 30, and he hadn’t been feeling well for some time. Walt was famous for his presentations on industry trends, which featured cartoons to spice up what could have been uninspiring data points. Walt really made data interesting, and we’ll miss him.
What EMS Firms Want from Their Software—and What They Get
Published September 3
What do you want from your software? In this article, Thiago Guimaraes of the Global Electronics Association discusses the findings of the 2024 EMS Software Survey, which focused on how electronics manufacturers qualified and selected software. Some of the results will surprise you. Check it out.
The Global Electronics Association Launches Design Village at APEX EXPO 2026
Published September 2
Does it really take a village? We’re going to find out! The Design Village will debut at APEX EXPO 2026, centered around a Technology Pavilion that features technical presentations and panel discussions. If you’re involved in PCB design or design engineering, you won’t want to miss this.
Defense Speak Interpreted: If CHIPS Cuts Back, What Happens to Electronics Packaging Funds?
Published September 2
As we said years ago, we’ll have to keep a close eye on the CHIPS Act, and Denny Fritz is doing just that. In this column, Denny discusses the state of CHIPS Act expenditures, and what could happen in our industry in the event of cutbacks. There are still plenty of projects being funded, but many of these are $20 million projects. As Denny points out, “…$20 million will buy a fair amount of research, a few pieces of equipment each, but not much brick and mortar.” Stay tuned.
Kris Moyer Discusses His Emerging Design Technologies Class
Published September 4
IPC instructor Kris Moyer is known for living in an RV on his property near Sacramento, but we like to joke that he lives in a “van down by the river.” In this interview, conducted from his RV, Kris discusses his upcoming six-week class on designing PCBs with emerging technologies. His class runs from October 7 to November 13 and meets Tuesdays and Thursdays. If you want to be ready for the technologies of tomorrow, this class is for you.
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Kris Moyer Discusses His Emerging Design Technologies Class
09/04/2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007Kris Moyer, a design instructor for the Global Electronics Association, will be teaching his advanced PCB design class this fall. If you’re ready to level up your design education, you won’t want to miss this interview. The PCB Design for Emerging Design Technologies course is designed to provide the skills necessary to create PCB/PBA designs that require cutting-edge emerging design technologies and comply with all necessary IPC standards, including new standards being developed in this area.
It’s Only Common Sense: 20 Lessons in 20 Years—A Career in Common Sense
08/25/2025 | Dan Beaulieu -- Column: It's Only Common SenseIt’s been 20 years and 1,000 columns since I published my first monthly edition called “It’s Only Common Sense” on Sept. 5, 2005. I had only written 10 columns when I realized I couldn’t be confined to once a month. I simply had too much to say. So, on July 31, 2006, I started writing once a week, and let me tell you, that’s a lot of Mondays spent thinking, listening, watching, and writing about this wild, brutal, and beautiful industry we call the printed circuit board business.
The Power Shift in U.S. Manufacturing Ownership
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Meet the Round 1 Winners of the Bright Manufacturing Student Challenge 2025
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The Knowledge Base: Cultivating Your Brand in the Age of Connection
08/19/2025 | Mike Konrad -- Column: The Knowledge BaseAudiences have evolved in how they consume information, form opinions, and make purchasing decisions. While marketing still relies on tried-and-true methods—get your name and message in front of your audience—you must also cultivate connection, credibility, and community. Your customers, particularly the younger generation of engineers, buyers, and program managers, want to discover value on their terms.