It’s Only Common Sense: Your Biggest Competitor Is Complacency
The Chemical Connection: Onshoring PCB Production—Daunting but Certainly Possible
Marcy’s Musings: The Legislative Outlook—Helping or Hurting?
Come Together: Tom Marktscheffel Used Data To Build CFX and a Global Factory Standard
October 27, 2025 | Sandy Gentry, Community MagazineEstimated reading time: 1 minute
When Tom Marktscheffel, director of product management software solutions at ASMPT, looks back on his nearly three decades in electronics manufacturing, one word stands out: data.
“Data is the new gold,” he says. Without it, automation, artificial intelligence, and the factory of the future are impossible. With it, the industry can move from manual, error-prone processes to smart, connected systems that make real-time decisions.
That vision lies at the heart of the Connected Factory Exchange (CFX) standard, which Tom has helped lead since its inception. Today, he chairs the 2-17: Connected Factory Initiative Subcommittee and 2-17A: IPC-CFX Standard Task Group and is an active member of the CFX A-team, the Plug & Players. These are working groups of volunteers shaping how factories communicate and operate worldwide. Besides his CFX activities, he chairs the 2-10: Electronic Product Data Description Committee and co-chairs 2-17B: IPC-HERMES-9852 Standard Task Group.
Why CFX Matters
Nearly a decade ago, the industry faced a communication problem. Each equipment vendor had its own “standard” for data exchange—if it had one at all. Integrators and software providers spent countless hours writing translation layers to get machines to talk to each other. “It was like trying to build a global factory where every machine spoke a different language,” Tom says.
CFX changed that. By defining not only what data is communicated, but also how it is structured and transmitted, the standard ensures that every machine can “speak the same language.”
Continue reading this article in the Fall 2025 issue of Community Magazine, a partnership with the Global Electronics Association and I-Connect007.
Share on:
Testimonial
"Advertising in PCB007 Magazine has been a great way to showcase our bare board testers to the right audience. The I-Connect007 team makes the process smooth and professional. We’re proud to be featured in such a trusted publication."
Klaus Koziol - atgSuggested Items
IPC-CFX, 2.0: How to Use the QPL Effectively
07/02/2025 | Chris Jorgensen, Global Electronics AssociationIn part one of this series, we discussed the new features in CFX Version 2.0 and their implications for improved inter-machine communication. But what about bringing this new functionality to the shop floor? The IPC-CFX-2591 QPL is a powerful technical resource for manufacturers seeking CFX-enabled equipment. The Qualified Product List (QPL) helps streamline equipment selection by listing models verified for CFX compliance through a robust third-party virtual qualification process.
IPC-CFX, 2.0: Expanding the Digital Backbone of Electronics Manufacturing
05/21/2025 | Chris Jorgensen, IPCSince its initial release in March 2019, IPC Connected Factory Exchange (CFX), the global standard for plug-and-play, machine-to-machine, and machine-to-system communication serving as the backbone for digital manufacturing, has seen continuous enhancement through multiple version updates. In 2024, the standard matured as adoption spread, with a global committee of EMS, OEM, machine vendors, and software solution providers twice releasing version updates to build on the standard's base framework and enhance its usability in industry.
Delta Builds First IPC-CFX Demonstration Line in Asia-Pacific
05/14/2025 | Chuck Li, IPC North AsiaAs a key standard in the global electronics manufacturing industry, IPC-CFX has been implemented in various regions worldwide, providing the foundation for digital factory solutions. In the Asia-Pacific region, IPC actively promotes this standard, helping enterprises enhance efficiency and competitiveness through digital transformation.
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
04/25/2025 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007I’m highlighting a discussion on the positive potential coming from the recent changes in global trade policy—from IPC’s Government Relations team, and from TTM CEO Tom Edman. In the realm of designers and purchasers realm, there’s news from Screaming Circuits and ASC/Sunstone Circuits to share. Finally, additive manufacturing and the release of CFX 2.0 highlight just some of the news coming to the shop floor as well.
IPC Releases Version 2.0 of IPC-2591, Connected Factory Exchange, with Expanded Device Coverage and Smarter Data
04/23/2025 | IPCIPC announces the release of IPC-2591, Connected Factory Exchange (CFX), Version 2.0, the global standard for plug-and-play, machine-to-machine, and machine-to-system communication for digital manufacturing.