It’s Only Common Sense: Great Leaders Lead From the Front
Dan’s Biz Bookshelf: ‘The Talent Code: Greatness Isn’t Born. It’s Grown. Here’s How’
The Marketing Minute: Get Out of Your Lane—Electronics Marketing Needs Bold Moves
Is IPC the Past or the Future of our Industry?
January 28, 2016 | Jason Marsh, InsulectroEstimated reading time: 1 minute
In the electronics industry, there seems to be an infinite number of trade organizations, each with their own special niche and purpose. It can be challenging from the outside to understand why they each exist and how they fit together. First there is the alphabet soup of trade shows including IPC APEX EXPO, CPCA, HKPCA, JPCA, TPCA, DesignCon, productronica, IEEE Microwave, IMAPS, NEPCON, Meptec, Flex, Semicon West, CES, CEDIA, OE-A, MD&M, IDTechX and SMTA, to name a few. Then behind these trade shows there are the trade organizations that are the representatives of their respective technology niches such as IPC, CEA, NAMM, SMTA and IEEE. From a bare board fabricator and assembly perspective, the primary trade organization has historically been IPC. We look to IPC to take a lead in fostering our market, developing economically viable methods of standardization, and helping to bring suppliers and customers together.
For those of us manufacturing PCBs, assembling electronics or supplying the bare board industry, IPC is the steward of our industry and interests. For those of us who have been around for long enough, there is a good chance you have at some point experienced frustration with IPC and its mission or effectiveness at supporting our industry. Over the past decade and a half, North American fabricators have watched significant volumes of work transition from the U.S. to China. At the same time, operating costs have increased, EPA controls have tightened, and fabricators have been saddled with costly compliance requirements like Dodd Frank Section 1502 around conflict minerals, all of which add cost to U.S. operations, while the protection from overseas competition continues to be eroded.
Read the full article here.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the December 2015 issue of The PCB Magazine.
Share on:
Testimonial
"We’re proud to call I-Connect007 a trusted partner. Their innovative approach and industry insight made our podcast collaboration a success by connecting us with the right audience and delivering real results."
Julia McCaffrey - NCAB GroupSuggested Items
October EMS Trends Show Stabilizing Market and Building Momentum for 2026
11/28/2025 | Global Electronics AssociationThe Global Electronics Association announced the October 2025 findings from its North American Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) Statistical Program. The book-to-bill ratio stands at 1.26.
Kitron Registers New Share Capital Following Private Placement
11/28/2025 | KitronReference is made to the stock exchange announcement made by Kitron ASA on 25 November 2025 regarding the allocation of 17,000,000 new ordinary shares in the Company at a subscription price of 57.25 per share in the private placement.
Key Tronic Earns Bronze ‘Partner2Win’ Medallion from BAE Systems
11/27/2025 | Key Tronic Corp.Key Tronic Corporation received a Bronze Medallion at BAE Systems’ ‘Partner2Win’ suppler symposium, recognizing its exceptional performance and commitment to operational excellence this year.
Elbit Systems Reports Q3 2025 Results
11/27/2025 | PRNewswireRevenues in the third quarter of 2025 were $1,921.6 million, as compared to $1,717.5 million in the third quarter of 2024.
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
11/28/2025 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007Yesterday was the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday. The traditional meal is, of course, roast turkey with “all the trimmings.” Although not everyone observes that menu, most do, and it was reported that 42 million turkeys were consumed on that day. With an average weight of 16 pounds per turkey, we cooked up 672 million pounds! With approximately 342 million people in the U.S, that pencils out to just under two pounds of drumstick and white meat per person. That, my friends, is a whole lot of leftovers.