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Real Time with... THECA 2024: IPC Focusing on the Needs of a Growing Region

Dave Bergman, vice president of standards and technology at IPC, updates Nolan Johnson on the active development work underway by IPC in the SE Asia region. Dave shares that IPC is very involved in helping to encourage and enable new investment in this region through IPC's core work in standards, education, and advocacy.

Impressions from THECA 2024

In American pop culture, we often see depictions of a youth athletic team—eight-year-old boys suited up to play American football or girls in soccer gear—and one of the kids shouts, “We may be small,” while the rest of the team answers, “but we are mighty.” That was the same feeling I had during the inaugural Thailand Electronic Circuits Asia trade show in Bangkok last week.

Technology Adoption and the Role of Automation

In a recent paper at the SMTA Pan Pacific Strategic Electronics Symposium 2024, Auburn University professors highlighted their findings from their 2023 “Smart Manufacturing Adoption Study” Technical Report 23-01. The paper emphasizes five points that are important for the adoption of advanced technologies.

Real Time with… THECA 2024: STARTEAM—Bringing Smart Factory Practices to Thailand

Daniel Jacob (CEO) and Martin Schneider (CTO) share insights on STARTEAM Global's fabrication facility in Thailand and detail the development of AI-driven smart factory and digital twin tools throughout their facilities. Along with the fabs in China, Thailand, and their newest location in Italy, STARTEAM sees a significant opportunity to serve the automotive sector worldwide.

I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week

This week, I’ve been attending Thailand Electronic Circuits Asia 2024. This is the inaugural event, hosted by Thailand Printed Circuit Association (THPCA) in collaboration with the Hong Kong Printed Circuit Association (HKPCA). Thailand has supported a PCB industry for some time—mostly automotive applications—but the China Plus One dynamic has definitely taken root here.

Thailand Electronics Circuit Asia 2024 Kicks Off

After a long and grueling experience through last week’s airline IT meltdowns, I finally touched down in Bangkok, where I’m here for the inaugural Thailand Electronics Circuit Asia (THECA) show. The expo and technical conference kicked off Wednesday at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Center, featuring an expo and a technical conference.

Are You Ready to Thrive? Keep an Open Mind

Anaya Vardya joined American Standard Circuits in 2007, and his leadership strategy has focused on teamwork, technological advancement, and a strong marketing strategy. He leans on his extensive industry background and is inspired by former Intel CEO Andrew Grove, whose philosophy centered on proactive adaptability and emphasized thriving over mere survival.

DIS: Thriving With New Processes and Technologies

What does it take to really thrive in today’s business environment? Will it require big changes, or can you make small, incremental improvements? Jesse Ziomek, global sales director and product manager at DIS, Inc., a company that designs and manufactures automation equipment, focuses on strategies for thriving in the PCB industry by emphasizing cost reduction through smart robotic solutions and addressing bottlenecks to optimize yields.

BPMI Inc. Uses IPC Standards to Support the U.S. Nuclear-powered Naval Fleet

Our IPC member profile focuses on Bechtel Plant Machinery Inc (BPMI), responsible for the fabrication, test, delivery, installation, and field support of high-quality nuclear power plant components for installation in submarines and aircraft carriers.

I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week

Are you ready for the weekend? Fin de semana? I think we all are! In this week’s roundup, we have one article on what it takes to thrive in the industry today, as well as an interview that discusses one student’s drive to succeed as a PCB designer. We also have an article by our newest columnist, Tom Yang, who introduces us to his family-owned PCB company. Columnist Hanna Grace brings us an interview with her mentor, and Anaya Vardya continues his UHDI coverage with an article that explains UHDI’s use in the RF/microwave arena.

Insights from a PCB Pioneer: Dr. Hayao Nakahara's Global Journey

In a candid conversation, industry luminary Dr. Hayao Nakahara (Naka) delves into his long and illustrious journey across the global PCB landscape. As the founder of NTI, Naka has toured hundreds of PCB manufacturing facilities worldwide, amassing a wealth of data and insights. Dan Beaulieu captures the essence of Naka’s profound impact on the PCB industry, from his early days in R&D to his current role as a revered source of knowledge and analysis for industry professionals.

Tom Edman Leads IPC Board of Directors

IPC elected several new board members at IPC APEX EXPO in April, including new Board Chair Tom Edman, CEO of TTM, who assumes the role from Bob Neves, CTO and chair of Microtek Laboratories. Tom and TTM have long been active in many facets of IPC. I caught up with Tom and asked him about his new board appointment, IPC, and the industry he serves. He emphasizes IPC’s work in standards and advocacy as especially important for our industry.

THECA: Thailand’s Coming-out Party

Swaek Prakitritanon is vice president and general secretary of the Thailand Printed Circuit Association (THPCA), and we recently spoke about the inaugural Thailand Electronics Circuit Asia (THECA) trade show, July 24–26, in Bangkok. Among the six specific benefits cited for THECA attendees are valuable insights into the technology transfer to the China + 1 Asian region, specifically Thailand, as a ripe investment opportunity for PCB and PCBA companies. 

New Issue of IPC Community Now Ready for Your Summer Reading Pleasure

If you’re like most of us in this industry, you have a passion for your work—and it shows. In the new issue of IPC Community, which publishes online today, we feature multiple examples of individuals and companies passionate about their jobs and their work in electronics manufacturing. They truly care about #buildingelectronicsbetter.

I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week 

I spent my week at SEMICON West in San Francisco, returning last night. It was a full week that had me drawing parallels between what is happening in the semiconductor sector and in our segment of the supply chain. I had my mind blown listening to presentations and panels on things like quantum computing. The future is indeed bright. Tech-heavy, but very bright. If there was one phrase from the conference that rings most true in my mind, it is “unprecedented opportunities and unprecedented challenges.” Stay tuned for SEMICON coverage over the next week and additional coverage in our August magazines. 

SEMICON WEST 2024 Kicks Off in San Francisco

Unsurprisingly, it is overcast as I drive into San Francisco to the Moscone Center for SEMICON 2024. The doors did not open until 7:30 am, which left a few of us loitering outside anticipating what we’d find on the other side of the doors. I am one of those strange individuals who kind of loves trade shows and conferences. I have always had a curious mind and thirst for knowledge, so continuing my education on cutting-edge technology and market trends fills me with energy. SEMICON and semiconductors are not our core industry, but everything that they do and work toward informs and trickles down into the reality of the printed circuit board supply chain. 

Expansion and Growth: You Can’t Do It Alone

Building a new PCB facility takes strong partnerships with your suppliers. I quickly learned that we could not build our new facility alone. We would need to find and develop relationships with what would become trusted vendor partners.

Remembering George Dudnikov

George Dudnikov, the PCB industry veteran and icon, passed away last week at the age of 66. Born in The Bronx, he was a New Yorker to his core. I met George and his lovely wife, Susan Hughes, when we all worked at Hadco. At that time, they had already been at Hadco for years and were much respected and well-known throughout the PCB industry.

The Value Side of Training, Part 1: Five Easy Ways to Measure the ROI on Training

The best thing about a good investment is the yield it provides. This series of articles on the value side of training will focus on how to effectively measure the return on your investment (ROI) when training your staff. I will offer practical, quantifiable metrics you can apply today. Think of it as a quick checklist for every effective training program.

Pushing the Limits of PCB Impedance Control

All PCB fabricators have their own carefully guarded methods of modifying their process to achieve the desired controlled impedance specification. When you start considering the techniques and processes in PCB manufacturing, the list seems endless: etching, high layer counts, feature density, pressing, layer registration, material storage, and expansion/contraction. With so many contributing factors, who can blame them for playing their cards close to the vest?

JPCA Show Review: Sizing Up the Market in Japan

As a relatively newer member of the PCB industry,  I found the Japan Printed Circuit Association (JPCA) show, held in June at the Tokyo Big Sight Convention Hall, to be a great experience. This year’s show was considered smaller compared to past years, but I was still impressed by the size and number of attendees.

Building Resilient Supply Chains

Globalization and offshoring have shaped the supply chains of large manufacturing businesses for the past three to four decades. The main goal has been the relentless pursuit of cost control to minimize expenditure and outlay and thus maximize returns and profitability.

I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week

It’s a holiday weekend in the United States, but the news doesn’t stop just because a few of us have the day off! You’ll have to pardon me; my ears are still ringing from the fireworks. Without further ado, here are the five things you should not miss from this week.

Overcoming Workforce Challenges from Onboarding to Upskilling

Everyone seems to be talking about workforce and staffing, but after the pandemic, staffing for manufacturing jobs became an even greater challenge. In April, IPC published a white paper, “Building Electronics Better: A Plan to Address the Workforce Challenges Facing the Electronics Manufacturing Industry.” The paper addresses myriad issues surrounding workforce recruitment, development, and retention while outlining a specific approach to tackle these challenges.

Don’t Overconstrain Your Board Materials

When we started planning May’s issue, which centers on the use of traditional laminates in certain high-frequency PCBs, we knew we had to interview Kris Moyer and Ed Kelley together. Kris teaches advanced PCB design classes for IPC, and Ed is the former CTO of Isola and founder of Four Peaks Innovation. What ensued was a wide-ranging discussion on the evolution of “standard” PCB laminates and the recent trend by some OEMs to use these materials in high-frequency and even RF boards.
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