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Marcy’s Musings: A Frighteningly Good October Issue

This month, we spotlight MKS, which is expanding its role as an essential supplier to the PCB, assembly, and semiconductor supply chains. In addition to my interview with President and CEO John Lee, we examine the company’s efforts to develop technologies that bring high-end solutions to real-world manufacturing challenges. Together, they offer a powerful look inside an important industry company.

I also want to share some thoughts on my summer travels. In June, I went to Lithuania for the EIPC Summer Conference and to visit Teltonika’s impressive manufacturing operation. In August, I attended the Thailand Electronics Circuit Asia (THECA) show, where I spoke with the leaders of several PCB companies through interviews and tours.

These are very different geographies and markets, but their energy is palpable as they tackle the challenges in front of them. In Europe, that has meant strengthening the domestic supply base. In Thailand, companies are positioning themselves strategically within an increasingly complicated geopolitical and import/export landscape.

I came home from both trips energized and impressed by their enthusiasm, vision, and optimism, and what they have accomplished in a short time.

Read more about my visit to Lithuania in the July issue of I-Connect007 Magazine. In this issue, learn about three Chinese companies investing in Thailand as they execute remarkably fast factory ramp-ups and move toward profitable operations. And stay tuned for coverage on Thailand’s considerable skilled-workforce shortage, looking at a strategic partnership through the prestigious Thai university MUT, with THPCA, and the Thailand Board of Investment.

Of course, October also means Halloween, and our columnists got into the spirit.

John Watson has a “nightmare” story about what PCB designers fear most—or perhaps should fear. Don Ball offers some real talk about the industry “fears” that I suspect many of us are feeling right now. Steve Williams writes about the scarier side of implementing AI in our factories, identifying five things manufacturers should keep in mind as we head down the seemingly primrose path of AI. His reminder: Quality systems still demand rigor.

On the technical side, Barry Olney goes deep into inductance and its effects on signal and power integrity, arguing that understanding these relationships can mean the difference between a board that merely functions and one that performs reliably at multi-gigabit speeds. New columnist, Kelly Atay of ASC Sunstone, helps PCB designers understand why they must keep the quote in mind at the beginning of the process.

Anaya Vardya writes about a topic I didn’t see coming: dental retainers. These aren’t the ones you wore in middle school; these are “smart retainers” that incorporate tiny flexible sensors capable of monitoring insertion time, bite force, inflammation, infection, and even biomarkers in saliva. Serious cool factor.

In “Powering the Future,” Brian Buyea gets down to brass tacks about the ability of ceramic substrates to provide connectivity while managing the heat generated by increasingly powerful electronics. On the U.S. manufacturing front, PCBAA points to real-world examples of prominent American PCB manufacturers succeeding with government support, and makes the case that much more is needed. Michael Carano challenges PCB fabricators to examine whether their processes keep them ahead of the technology curve, and we welcome new columnist Michael Gleason from GreenSource Fabrication, who will help engineers design better by thinking differently and planning for future possibilities in PCB fabrication.

Also, I catch up with Accurate Circuit Engineering’s James Hofer, whose enthusiasm and expertise in PCB prototype fabrication are matched only by his insights into the evolving demands of the U.S. high-reliability defense and aerospace markets.

We’re continuing our series from Sean Patterson about how to put AI into action on the shop floor. Dan Thau of Millennium Circuits writes about a type of supply chain “insurance policy” called SupplyShield.

As you can see, October has more to offer than pumpkin spice and indulging in your favorite seasonal scare. Our industry is operating at 110% at all times, a constant reminder of how exciting it is to be here and of the privilege of telling some of your stories.

This column originally appeared in the October 2026 issue of I-Connect007 Magazine.