The Chemical Connection: When History Repeats Itself on Diversification
It’s Only Common Sense: AI Is Accelerating the Electronics Industry
Punching Out: M&A Deals in North American PCB and EMS Sectors for the First Half of 2026
Are you familiar with the “locus of control," which describes how much we believe our actions can change the outcome of our lives? Internal locus of control, for example, is the belief that our actions greatly shape our outcomes; external locus of control holds that external forces have a greater influence than our actions on how our lives play out. How we view our own locus of control can strongly influence how we respond to the world, perhaps even creating a self-fulfilling prophecy situation.
The news has taken a more languid pace this week. Not so, however, for our intrepid band of I-Connect007 columnists, who thoughtfully tackle some chunky locus of control topics. Take Leo Lambert, who argues that soldering reliability is often predetermined by the materials and components selected rather than the accuracy of the soldering process. Dan Beaulieu’s column asserts that we’re much more in control of AI than the other way around. Don Ball looks back at the cyclical guidance on whether to diversify or consolidate, and why you should make a carefully thought-out choice. The market projections for memory chips in 2027 are out, prompting some companies, like NVIDIA, to adopt an internal locus of control in response. Finally, the August issue of SMT007 Magazine, on the very latest in CMMC certification, is available for your download.
Learning With Leo: Where Reliability Actually Hides
Published August 5
In this installment of Leo’s column, he posits that successful soldering is decided well before the soldering iron touches anything. With today’s complex components and material combinations, reliable solder joints require a full knowledge of material interactions.
August SMT007 Magazine: Cybersecurity Remains a Business Imperative
Published August 2
Every now and then, SMT007 Magazine gets on top of a rapidly emerging topic, which makes for an up-to-the-minute read but makes the editorial experience feel more like a newspaper than a magazine. Thanks to the U.S. government’s delay of an impending deadline for CMMC certification, the August issue on CMMC is one of those issues. Download your copy to get the latest on cybersecurity concerns and certifications.
It’s Only Common Sense: AI Is Accelerating the Electronics Industry
Published August 3
Dan Beaulieu’s column puts forth a thoughtful thesis regarding AI based on internal locus of control: Without advanced electronics, there is no AI. Instead of asking how AI will replace electronics manufacturing, we should be asking how electronics manufacturing will make AI possible. Good reading for those of us needing a shift in perspective on AI.
The Chemical Connection: When History Repeats Itself on Diversification
Published August 4
Progress (and karma) tends to spin like a wheel, hence the saying, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” Don Ball steps back to examine this dynamic in the long-tail cycle of core competencies, where we diversify, then spin off the non-core businesses, then diversify again. Don has some thoughts on how to make sure this particular spinning wheel actually makes forward progress.
2027 Memory Market Sees Diverging DRAM, NAND Trends
Published July 30
Memory pricing and availability are fundamental leading indicators of our business. According to Trendforce, continued HBM capacity allocation, robust AI server demand, and growing procurement of CPU memory and HBM are expected to keep DRAM supply constrained and prices on an upward trajectory. In fact, NVIDIA is scaling back its HBM configurations in response. By contrast, NAND Flash is projected to see increased downward pressure on prices as new production capacity comes online while consumer electronics demand remains weak.
