The Pulse: Caught in the Crosshatch—A Cautionary Tale of Detective Work
Fresh PCB Concepts: Designing PCBs for Harsh Environments—Reliability Is Engineered Upstream
Elementary, Mr. Watson DFX—Basically a Basket of Crabs With Spreadsheets
December 2025 Design007 Magazine: Designing Your Work and Your Life
December 8, 2025 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Every PCB design is a lesson in balance: speed vs. stability, density vs. clarity, performance vs. cost. What if we approached life with that same mindset? Just as a well-designed board depends on thoughtful trade-offs, work-life balance comes from shaping a system that performs reliably over time. In this issue, we explore how designers translate their professional instincts into personal choices, and what happens when that system is allowed to drift.
In the December issue of Design007 Magazine, we go beyond board design to show how designers, marketers, managers, and owners apply their professional skills to personal choices—and what it costs when that system is left to drift.
Our contributors on the topic this month include Stephen V. Chavez of Siemens, Fil Arzola of Raytheon, Kelly Dack of Pioneer Circuits, Professor John Watson of Palomar College, Zach Peterson of Northwest Engineering Solutions, Barry Olney of In-Circuit Design PTY LTD, and Kelly Atay of ASC Sunstone Circuits.
So, if you’re feeling that drain from the pursuit of perfection, take a few minutes to read real-life stories of others who’ve been there, and get tips on setting boundaries that ultimately lead to a happier and healthier individual.
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May SMT007 Magazine: Putting North America in Focus
05/04/2026 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamA North America spotlight exploring tariffs, reshoring, AI demand, and supply chain challenges. Plus, insights on cybersecurity, workforce development, and the evolving role of U.S. electronics manufacturing. Read this issue of SMT007 Magazine now and see where the region is headed.
It’s Only Common Sense: The Phone Is Still Your Competitive Advantage
05/04/2026 | Dan Beaulieu -- Column: It's Only Common SenseI know this is about the millionth column that I’ve written on this subject, but salespeople still aren’t getting it. Let’s stop pretending that the phone stopped working. You just stopped using it. Salespeople have convinced themselves that email is efficient, LinkedIn messages are strategic, and that marketing automation is scale. Yes, maybe, but none of that replaces a real conversation. The phone, it turns out, may be your unfair advantage.
Dan’s Biz Bookshelf: ‘The Next RenAIssance: AI and the Expansion of Human Potential’
04/29/2026 | Dan Beaulieu -- Column: Dan's Biz BookshelfZack Kass delivers something truly special in "The Next RenAIssance: AI and the Expansion of Human Potential," a book that doesn’t just explain artificial intelligence—it reframes how we think about our future as individuals, leaders, and innovators. Written in a tone that is both accessible and deeply insightful, Kass manages to turn a complex, often intimidating subject into an energizing call to action. This is not a book about machines replacing humans. It’s a book about humans becoming more of who they’re capable of being.
ASC’s John Johnson Bullish on the U.S. and High-tech PCBs
04/28/2026 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007It was a good couple of days at the SMTA UHDI Symposium in Avondale, Arizona, in early April, where John Johnson, head of technology at American Standard Circuits (ASC) and resident PCB expert on UHDI in the real-world of manufacturing, was a presenter. As the symposium ended, I visited with John, who reflected on what he considered most important and what had made the greatest impression on him.
The Chemical Connection: When the Industry Moves Faster Than the Standards
04/29/2026 | Don Ball -- Column: The Chemical ConnectionAs a supplier of wet processing equipment, we have rules and standards we must adhere to, including both regional and national electrical codes and safety and environmental regulations, as well as myriad other standards to make the equipment safe to use. Things are a little different when it comes to rules and standards for manufacturing PCBs, though, because technical advances and requirements change so quickly that standards can’t keep up.