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The Training Connection’s Bill Graver: Among Four U.S. IPC-6012 Trainers, Setting the Standard in Testing and Training
January 15, 2026 | The Training Connection, LLCEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
The Training Connection, LLC (TTC-LLC), a premier provider of test engineering and development training, proud to announce that Bill Graver, IPC Master Trainer with The Training Connection, is one of only four trainers in the United States qualified to teach IPC-6012, the IPC standard governing the performance and qualification of rigid printed circuit boards.
IPC-6012 is a foundational standard for PCB manufacturing, defining acceptance requirements for materials, fabrication, testing, and quality across single-sided, double-sided, multilayer, and metal-core boards. It is critical for high-reliability Class 3 applications, including aerospace, defense, and medical electronics, where failure is not an option.
“The Training Connection is built on deep test and standards expertise,” said Bert Horner, President of The Training Connection. “With one of the nation’s very few IPC-6012 trainers on our team, we’re able to provide unmatched test and training support to manufacturers working in the most demanding environments.”
Bill Graver brings more than 35 years of experience in electronics manufacturing, PCB testing, and failure analysis. His background includes service on the IPC-A-600 committee and as vice chair of IPC-6012, providing direct insight into both the requirements of the standard and how they apply in real-world production. He holds multiple IPC Master Trainer certifications, including IPC-6012, IPC-A-600, IPC-A-610, and IPC/WHMA-A-620.
IPC-6012 works in conjunction with visual standards such as IPC-A-600, which provides photographic examples of acceptability, while IPC-6012 establishes measurable performance criteria such as copper thickness, annular ring requirements, and void limits. Recent updates to the standard have expanded coverage of microvias and advanced PCB structures, increasing the importance of experienced instruction.
Through The Training Connection, Bill Graver delivers IPC-6012 Certified IPC Trainer (CIT) and Certified IPC Specialist (CIS) courses, along with other IPC certification and custom technical training programs. The Training Connection offers both onsite and virtual training, supporting manufacturers, fabricators, and inspectors across the electronics industry.
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
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
05/08/2026 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007This week, I’ve selected some outstanding interviews that you’ll want to take note of. First, is a roundtable discussion featuring three dynamic industry cybersecurity experts. Please watch this important discussion that affects us all. Following that, I spotlight the IPC-2581 Consortium, which explains why IPC-2581 is the standard to replace Gerber data for manufacturing. Next, I am including my interview with PCBAA and AAM, who collaborated to release a short documentary on U.S. PCB manufacturing.
Global Electronics Association to Testify at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative Panel on Section 301 Structural Excess Capacity
05/08/2026 | Global Electronics AssociationChris Mitchell, Vice President for Global Government Relations at the Global Electronics Association, will testify before the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Panel on Section 301 Structural Excess Capacity on Friday, May 8.
Hall of Fame Spotlight Series: Highlighting Karen McConnell
05/07/2026 | Dan Feinberg, I-Connect007In 2021, Karen McConnell was awarded the Raymond E. Pritchard Hall of Fame award in recognition of her contributions to the Association and the electronics industry. As a senior staff member and CAD/CAM engineer at Northrop Grumman Enterprise Services, her primary responsibility was to develop a common, shared EDM (Electronic Document Management) library to support the electrical and PCB design tool initiatives across Northrop Grumman Mission Systems.
A Necessary Shift From Gerber to IPC-2581
05/07/2026 | Tracy Riggan, Global Electronics AssociationIPC-2581 is an open, vendor-neutral data exchange standard developed by the Global Electronics Association to streamline the exchange of PCB design information across fabrication, assembly, and test. It replaces multiple legacy formats—including industry standards, Gerber, and ODB++—with a single, comprehensive, XML-based dataset that captures all manufacturing details.
TTC-LLC and TTCI: Smarter Training, Stronger Test at PCB East 2026
04/27/2026 | The Test Connection Inc.The Training Connection LLC (TTC-LLC) and The Test Connection, Inc. (TTCI) will be exhibiting together at PCB East 2026, taking place April 28–May 1 at the DCU Convention Center in Worcester, Massachusetts. Attendees can find both teams at Booth #103 during the main exhibition day on Wednesday, April 29.