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I-Connect007 Editor's Choice: Five Most-Read Articles for 2025
Happy New Year! As we begin 2026, I would like to pause and reflect on our most-read articles from 2025. They give us insight into what you’re focused on, and what you’re trying to understand, prepare for, and improve. Each piece earned its place through relevance, depth, and sustained reader engagement.
Advance Your Electronics Career in 2026: Upcoming Instructor-Led Courses from Electronics U
Staying competitive in the electronics industry requires continuously strengthening your technical expertise. Electronics U is excited to present a new lineup of expert-led, online courses designed to elevate your skills in PCB design, electronics assembly, wire harness design, program management, and more. Whether you're looking to build foundational knowledge or expand into specialized applications, these immersive, instructor-guided sessions will help you master the tools and techniques that today’s leading companies rely on.
Happy New Year from the I-Connect007 Staff
The I-Connect007 staff wishes you all a Happy New Year! Our offices are closed New Year’s Day and will re-open on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. The end of one year and the start of another is often a perfect time to reflect on what has been and where we are headed. We all want better health, more strategic goals, more business, more motivation, and stronger intentions. We can turn over the calendar and a new chapter in our own book of life.
Brittany Martin: A New Champion for the Industry
From Shakespeare scholar to digital marketer, Brittany Martin brings clarity and heart to everything she does. In this interview, Brittany shares her journey from academia to electronics marketing, her proudest professional and personal milestones, and the lessons she’s learned about simplicity, growth, and balance along the way. Get to know the person behind The Marketing Minute and discover what drives her passion for this industry.
Voices of the Industry Podcast Explores the Evolving Role of Inspection Systems in EMS Manufacturing
Inspection technology continues to play a pivotal role in the evolution of electronics manufacturing services, and the latest episode of Voices of the Industry brings that conversation into sharp focus. Hosted by I-Connect007’s Nolan Johnson, this episode features Joel Scutchfield of Koh Young, a recognized leader in 3D measurement-based inspection systems.
Denny Fritz: A Hall-of-Fame Career in PCBs
From DuPont to the Navy’s top electronics programs, Defense Speak Interpreted columnist Dennis “Denny” Fritz has devoted his career to advancing defense technology and collaboration. In this interview, Denny reflects on decades of leadership, service, and innovation, offering timeless advice on staying technically active and leading with purpose.
CMMC 2.0: What You Need to Know
Tenets of the Department of Defense's (DoD) Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Program (CMMC) 2.0 went into effect on Nov. 10. What are the primary differences between 1.0 and 2.0 compliance, and what exactly must be in place now? CMMC 2.0 is now being written into DoD contracts and enforced through DFARS (Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement), with a three-year phased rollout. For PCB and electronics manufacturers in the defense supply chain, this is now a real gate to doing business with the DoD, not a “nice to have.”
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
What a year it’s been! I don’t think anyone could have anticipated the level of shake-up that was to come on the global trade scene when U.S. President Donald Trump came into his second term in January, but the drama that has ensued rivals anything ever aired on “The Apprentice.” However, I am somewhat heartened by our current position compared to how things felt in Q2 of this year. Much remains to be worked out, but as we sprint into the new year, there are three things I know for sure: 1) Working in tech is never dull—you will not be bored in 2026; 2) Expect to work very hard; and 3) Business, like life, will go on no matter what. I hope you enjoy my picks for week: all good reads for different reasons. Happy New Year!
Happy Holden: A Relentless Pursuit of Knowledge
Known as the godfather of PCB process technology, Happy’s Tech Talk columnist Happy Holden has spent over 50 years advancing electronics manufacturing. In this profile, Happy shares stories from HP, Foxconn, and beyond—highlighting a career defined by curiosity, mentorship, and a relentless passion for learning that continues to shape our industry.
Merry Christmas from I-Connect007!
The I-Connect007 offices are closed today, in observance of the Christmas holiday. As part of the Global Electronics Association, the offices remain closed through New Year’s Day. I-Connect007 will still publish daily and weekly newsletters (with the exception of Christmas and New Year’s Day). Some staff members will still be checking email. Just for fun, we thought we’d share a bit of Christmas tradition about the gingerbread house. You’ve likely built one at some point and perhaps wondered how this tradition originated.
Why AI/ML May Be the Next Big Step for PCB Fabs
PCB manufacturing is approaching a pivotal moment across the global electronics supply chain. For decades, the industry grew by adding equipment, expanding capacity, and relying on the accumulated experience of seasoned engineers. Today, the landscape is shaped by rising product complexity, increasingly sensitive material systems, tighter delivery expectations, and a worldwide shortage of technical talent. The traditional model is nearing its limits.
Revolutionizing PCB Manufacturing in the AI Era
Artificial intelligence is reshaping every corner of the electronics ecosystem, and PCB manufacturing is under unprecedented pressure to evolve. In this exclusive conversation, Li Zhiqiang, general manager of Zhuhai Henger Microelectronics Equipment Co., Ltd., explains how plasma technology is emerging as a linchpin for next-generation AI hardware. As AI servers demand increasingly dense, high-performance PCBs, traditional chemical processes struggle to keep pace with new material systems and tighter reliability requirements.
Your 2026 Business Playbook: Step 10: Build a Culture That Makes Customers Want to Stay
In the final step of the 2026 Business Playbook, I’m talking about culture. I know that customers don’t leave shops over technology. They leave because communication breaks down, trust erodes, promises get missed, problems get hidden, calls go unanswered, updates don’t come, employees don’t care, accountability is weak, and leadership looks away.
Your 2026 Business Playbook: Step 9: Innovation Isn’t Optional Anymore
There was a time not long ago when PCB shops could survive on the same capabilities, materials, equipment, and skillset for 10 years or more. That time is gone. Today’s customers move fast, their designs move faster, and their expectations move faster still. If you are not innovating, your customers will leave you behind.
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
We are days away from the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026. This Jan. 1 will mark not only the end of a year, but also the end of a quarter-century. Doors are closing, while others are opening, and it wasn’t until I collated my must-reads this week that I noticed that a similar theme, though perhaps with more grace than in other current events around the globe. First up is the final episode of John Johnson’s series on UHDI. If you’re the type of person who reads the last chapter of a book first, definitely start with this episode, then listen to the rest of the series.
Steve Williams: A Strong Career Built on PCBs
With more than 40 years in electronics manufacturing, The Right Approach columnist Steve Williams shares the story of a life built on hard work, learning, and leadership. From family business roots to global sourcing strategies, Steve reflects on his proudest milestones and reminds us that success in this industry starts with continuous learning.
Your 2026 Business Playbook: Step 8: Improve Communication and You Improve Everything
Your communication is either your greatest advantage or your greatest challenge. There is no middle ground. After 35+ years working with PCB shops, I can tell you with absolute certainty that the shops that communicate well win, while those that communicate poorly struggle. It’s not because they lack capability, technology, or talent. They struggle because people are not talking to each other at the right time, about the right things, with the right clarity.
Your 2026 Business Playbook: Step 7: Strengthen Your Team Before You Strengthen Your Sales
Every shop has core roles that determine whether the company succeeds or struggles. These include engineering, CAM, quality, program management, operations leadership, customer service, and sales execution. If these roles are slow, overwhelmed, or under-trained, nothing else matters.
Your 2026 Business Playbook: Step 6: Clean Up Your Customer List—Not All Business Is Good Business
There’s a truth that almost every PCB shop knows deep down but refuses to speak out loud: Some customers are bad for business. Not because they’re challenging, too technical, or demanding in a good way. But because they’re bad for your margins, people, schedule, culture, and your blood pressure. They send you orders, so you tolerate them, and because they’ve been around a long time, you handle them with kid gloves.
Your 2026 Business Playbook: Step 5: Actions and Measurements—The 2026 Scoreboard That Drives Behavior
As we head into 2026—a year that will demand discipline, focus, customer obsession, and speed—you need a scoreboard that drives performance across your entire organization. You need a handful of critical, high-impact metrics that guide your actions every single week, so, let’s talk about the scoreboard that will make 2026 a breakout year.
Your 2026 Business Playbook: Step 4: 2025 Operations and Quality Review: Fix What Slowed You Down
Let’s have a grown-up conversation: You can build the best strategy in the world, pick brilliant target accounts, and forecast with precision. But if your operations and quality don’t back it up, none of it matters. Eventually, every PCB shop learns that you can’t sell your way out of operational chaos,
Hall of Fame Spotlight Series: Highlighting Larry Velie
Many who have contributed significantly to the Global Electronics Association (formerly IPC) and our industry have been awarded the Association’s Raymond E. Pritchard Hall of Fame (HOF) Award. Though many early HOF members have passed away and are unknown to today’s membership, their contributions still resonate. This special series on Hall of Fame members provides a reminder of who was honored and why. As a bonus, for those who are still around, we get to find out what these talented individuals are up to today.
Real Time with... productronica 2025: Jiva's Product Progress Update
Jiva’s Jack Herring provides an update on products, scalability, and lifecycle assessments. He answers questions about material properties, compliance, and sustainability. Jack also highlights the importance of being a market option and discusses plans for scaling production in the UK and Asia to meet demands and reduce carbon footprints.
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
Before diving into this week’s must-reads, I want to spotlight the incredible batch of interviews our team captured at productronica. They go beyond the quick booth chitchat and dig into the most pressing topics in electronics manufacturing. We spoke with companies and leaders who are shaping what happens next, and the conversations touch on the challenges and innovations that matter most to the industry today.
Tom Kastner: Navigating the Complex World of M&A
With a background spanning Silicon Valley, Japan, and Chicago, Punching Out columnist Tom Kastner has helped countless PCB and EMS business owners achieve their goals. In this interview, Tom reflects on his path from anthropology student to M&A expert, his love of nature and restoration work, and the satisfaction of guiding entrepreneurs through one of the most complex—and rewarding—transitions in business.
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