The Government Circuit: Fewer Hammers, More Scalpels—What Divided Government Means for U.S. Trade Policy
SMT Perspectives & Prospects: What I Hope the Next Generation Will Carry Forward
Learning With Leo: Observations from IPC Builds in Paris
The November 2026 issue of SMT007 Magazine, “The New Age of Sourcing,” examines how EMS companies are gaining better visibility and control over purchasing, inventory, and supply chain costs. After years of disruption, sourcing teams are finding new ways to move beyond spreadsheets and put more complete, consistent information to work.
Nolan Johnson introduces an issue centered on the tools and data behind more effective sourcing decisions. Scott Ryan of Cetec discusses practical material management, Ralph Richart of MetisLogic examines the challenges of inconsistent data in the “messy middle,” and Mark Zetter explores how analyzing the full tariff stack can reveal costs that might otherwise be overlooked. These features show why organizing and comparing data matters as much as collecting it.
Beyond the sourcing theme, James Kim’s latest Tariff Terminal article, “Taking Stock of the New Forced-Labor Tariffs,” examines new Section 301 duties, product exclusions, and importer-of-record requirements affecting electronics manufacturers. Alex Spurgeon of U.S. Heatstake explains how PCB hole geometry, copper placement, and mechanical loads influence heat-staking reliability. Nash Bell covers BGA stencil best practices, Adam Klett discusses the role and value of ROSE testing, and Tianming Liu considers the universal language of quality.
