Happy’s Tech Talk #48: Digital Twins—Integrating Design and Manufacturing
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Patrick Owen and Eric Mickenbecker both work for Summit Interconnect, and are in their second year of the Global Electronics Association’s Emerging Engineer Program with mentor Brian Chislea. They stopped by the I-Connect007 booth at APEX EXPO and shared a bit of their story with me. Patrick has worked at the Hollister, California, plant since 2018, while Eric has been at the Chicago site since 2023. Like many of their peers, they came to the electronics industry from different paths, but are both excited about making an impact.
Michelle Te: I always like to start by finding out how you got into the industry. What was your path?
Eric Mickenbecker: I studied chemical engineering at Iowa State University, and when I came out of school in 2023, I didn't really know much about the electronics industry. I fell into it by accident. I knew that I wanted to be an engineer, so to get some experience. I had the opportunity to work as a lab tech at Summit. I’ve since been able to work my way into an engineering role.
Michelle Te: I’ve heard from some Emerging Engineers that they didn’t really even know about anything about a circuit board. Was that the case for you?
Mickenbecker: Yes, absolutely. Right now, I’m working as a process engineer. I work out of our wet labe doing daily chemical analysis and wet process troubleshooting. I also work with other departments on quality and process improvement projects.
Te: Patrick, how did you get into the industry?
Patrick Owen: I actually earned a degree in electrical engineering from UC Davis in 2017, but I wasn’t sure where I would end up. I thought I would be in design, but I ended up in PCB fab, and I fell in love with it. I find it super interesting. It’s so fast paced. There are always new technologies coming out, and there’s so much to learn. That keeps it exciting for me.
I work as a front-end engineering manager, overseeing the daily CAM and planning activities at our Hollister location. I also work with other Summit sites and our corporate office on automation and development projects.
Because of my education, I had a foundation in circuit boards, which helped me pick it up quicker, but there were still a lot of unknowns. It’s just been fun learning about it all.
Te: That must be fun to explore an industry you didn’t know much about. Since joining Summit, what has surprised you about PCB fabrication and electronics manufacturing?
Owen: On the West Coast, it's a pretty small industry where everyone knows each other, and it feels like a really small world. I also haven’t been in it that long, but it’s amazing to see how everyone is connected and collaborative. It’s a young industry as well. I like seeing how fast-paced it is and how it takes teamwork beyond your own company to achieve the advancement we see.
Te: Speaking of it being a “young” industry, both in terms of longevity, but also among your colleagues, are you mostly working with people in your own age group?
Owen: The aging of the workforce is still a challenge that the industry will be facing, but it’s also really exciting to see all the young engineers who are joining the industry, and also the Emerging Engineer Program. I know Summit has a pretty large presence, and that’s a testament that we're really investing in the future of our company and our industry.
Te: I agree. Eric, what has surprised you about being in the industry?
Mickenbecker: What has surprised me is how detailed it can be. Every step in the process has its own process in that if you drill into just one step in our fabrication process, for example, it can get really detailed. There's also always room for improvement, and I like that. I’m a detail-oriented person, so it’s good that there can be room to tweak things that will make steps easier later in the process.
Te: Even though this process has probably been fairly well hammered out, there are these little details that can change and improve. Now, even though you’re early in your career, in what way would you like to see yourselves making an impact?
Owen: I want to grow into a leadership position. I also want to continue adapting to all the new technology that comes out and being creative in how we grow. My view is that we either grow or die, so let’s keep learning and collaborating. Coming to APEX EXPO is a great way to network and get that experience.
Mickenbecker: I agree with Patrick. I want to continue moving up into better roles where I make more of a difference than what I’m currently doing. I want to be in a spot where I can be a resource for someone who is in my spot right now and help them develop in those areas as well.
Te: Speaking of advancements in technology, what’s something that has caught your attention and excites you?
Owen: AI is definitely the big topic of the day. I want to see how our industry is adapting to meet the demands of AI infrastructure, as well as just living in this world, and how it evolves for us as consumers. It’s pretty exciting to me to think about the future—it’s so explosive, and it’s moving quickly.
Mickenbecker: In general, it's really fascinating to me how much smaller and tighter electronics are becoming. I’ve sat in some of the committee meetings here that are based around UHDI and seen how we keep pushing the limits of what’s possible.
Te: It’s exciting that you both will get to be a part of it. Thank you for talking to me today. I look forward to seeing you next year.
Owen: Awesome, thank you.
