American Made Advocacy: Rebuilding America’s Military Stockpiles Begins With Microelectronics
The Right Approach: The End of an Era—DoD Proposes MIL-PRF-31032 Cancellation
Defense Speak Interpreted: Hypersonics Report Back After Six Years of Silence
April Issue of I-Connect007 Magazine: Beyond the Rulebook
April 14, 2026 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamEstimated reading time: 1 minute
What happens when the old rulebook no longer applies—and all that’s left is new ground to break? Today’s designers and fabricators are being asked to build what has no precedent, no proven path, and no tidy checklist. This is where design for invention begins.
In this month’s I-Connect007 Magazine, we asked PCB designers, fabricators, and suppliers what it really means to operate without a rulebook. Their perspectives vary, especially between seasoned designers and experienced fabricators, but a common thread emerges: progress depends on pushing boundaries and finding a way forward, even when the path isn’t clear. In many ways, this mindset has always been part of what we do, whether we’ve called it that or not.
Hear from experts including John Watson, Kelly Dack, Stephen V. Chavez, Kristin Moyer, Anaya Vardya, Ventec, Mike Carano, Vern Solberg, Matt Stevenson, and more. They’re tackling the challenges head on and making bold assumptions about the future of design and manufacturing.
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It’s Only Common Sense: Complexity Is the Enemy of Profit
05/11/2026 | Dan Beaulieu -- Column: It's Only Common SenseComplexity is expensive, but it doesn’t look that way at first. In fact, it often disguises itself as sophistication, flexibility, or customer responsiveness. But peel back the layers, and you’ll find bloated costs, diluted focus, exhausted teams, and shrinking margins. Common sense says that if something is hard to understand, execute, and explain, it is probably hard to make money doing it.
A Necessary Shift From Gerber to IPC-2581
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When Quality Is Personal: The Human Stakes Behind Electronics Reliability
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Meet Emerging Engineers: Patrick Owen and Eric Mickenbecker, Summit Interconnect
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Nolan’s Notes: Our Spotlight on North America
05/05/2026 | Nolan Johnson -- Column: Nolan's NotesIn this issue of SMT007 Magazine, we wrap up our electronics world tour with a final stop in the United States and Canada, where we look at the challenges, opportunities, and geopolitical dynamics affecting the market today. What makes American electronics unique? Key U.S. administration policy decisions, like tariffs, are significantly affecting electronics manufacturing. Others, such as the current conflict with Iran and the associated closures of the Strait of Hormuz, affect the raw materials that feed our supply chain.