I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
September 9, 2022 | Andy Shaughnessy, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
It feels like the first day of school. It’s September, and we’re all officially back at our desks, workstations, or kitchen tables. Even Les Vacances is over. Oui, c’est vrai!
But instead of facing new teachers, we have to deal with diverse market forces, supply chain issues, and technology that never seems to stop evolving. Of course, that’s what makes this industry so interesting, isn’t it?
This week we highlight some news from industry organizations, an update on the CHIPS Act, and a few columns that focus on failures and what we can learn from them. As Dan Beaulieu points out, failure is an important part of succeeding in the long run, and our industry needs to stop being so “failure-phobic.”
Hold on to your hats, folks. It’s going to be a busy fall! See you in a few weeks.
IPC APEX EXPO 2023 Offers New Courses, New Instructors, and IPC E-Textiles
Published September 9
Today, registration opened for IPC APEX EXPO 2023 in San Diego, slated for Jan. 21–26, 2023. Co-located with the IPC E-Textiles conference on Jan. 23, 2023, the theme for the show is “Advances in a New Era.” The event will feature conference tracks for PCB design, fabrication, and assembly, and we’ll see the return of the PCB design competition as well.
This marks the last IPC APEX EXPO in San Diego for a few years; the show will be held at the Anaheim Convention Center from 2024 through 2026.
Will Marsh: CHIPS Act Update
Published September 6
In one of the few bipartisan efforts to take place in Washington lately, the CHIPS Act was voted through Congress and signed into law by the president. Color me skeptical, but what happens after this whole Kumbaya vibe has faded and it’s time to get to work? Editor Nolan Johnson asks PCBAA President Will Marsh to explain what’s next for this endeavor, and Will fills us in on details of the Supporting American Printed Circuit Boards Act of 2022 as well.
It’s Only Common Sense: It’s Time to Fail
Published September 5
Columnist Dan Beaulieu had a great piece this week on the importance of failing, and being able to learn from our failures. Too often, this industry places a premium on succeeding right now, on the first attempt, and woe to those who suffer a snafu or two along the way. Dan takes a look at some of the failures suffered by people who are now household names, including Henry Ford, Jerry Seinfeld, and Michael Jordan. My favorite MJ story: He missed 9,000 shots in his career.
EIPC Technical Snapshot Webinar
Published September 7
In keeping with the back-to-school theme, EIPC is offering a Technical Snapshot Webinar on Sept. 14 at 15:00 CET. Moderated by EIPC President Alun Morgan, the webinar features four 15-minute presentations, followed by a Q&A session. It’s free to EIPC members and only 50 euros for non-members. Don’t be tardy.
X-Rayted Files: My Favorite BGA Assembly Ever, Part 3
Published September 7
In his latest column, Bill Cardoso discusses his “favorite BGA assembly ever.” As he points out, it’s not his fave because it worked wonderfully; on the contrary, it has so many defects that it’s a perfect illustration of the problems he encounters in BGA assembly every day. Do you have a similar “favorite” PCB project that failed so badly that it’s a textbook example of what not to do?
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The New Chapter: Attracting ‘Generation Green’
03/28/2024 | Hannah Grace & Paige Fiet -- Column: The New ChapterIn the electronics industry, we talk a lot about sustainability in terms of recruitment and retention of the next generation of engineers. But what if the key to sustaining the industry long into the future is through the more common definition of the word? What if, for just a moment, we think about sustainability in terms of the environment and what we as an industry are doing to care for it? Because, if you weren’t aware, Gen Z cares tremendously about the environment and the actions companies are taking to preserve it. Without Gen Z joining the electronics industry’s workforce, we won’t be able to sustain the industry for much longer.
Accenture Invests in Sanctuary AI to Bring AI-Powered, Humanoid Robotics to Work Alongside Humans
03/27/2024 | BUSINESS WIREAccenture has made a strategic investment, through Accenture Ventures, in Sanctuary AI, a developer of humanoid general-purpose robots that are powered by AI and can perform a wide variety of work tasks quickly, safely and effectively.
Don Dennison Appointed to Roll Out KIC’s Latest Thermal Analysis System Software in the Northeast
03/26/2024 | KICKIC, a renowned pioneer in thermal process and temperature measurement solutions for electronics manufacturing, is pleased to announce the appointment of PIT Equipment Services, LLC, led by Don Dennison, as its representative for New York, New Jersey, and Eastern Pennsylvania.
iNEMI/IPC White Paper on Complex Integrated Systems Highlights Future Technology and Manufacturing Ecosystem Needs
03/25/2024 | IPCToday’s system solutions combine more varied functionality, such as digital, analog, optical, micro-mechanical, etc., packed into smaller form factors. As a result, electronics manufacturing has to deliver increasingly complex integration of diverse technologies with system designs that blur the distinction between chip, package, board, and assembly.
Seeking Employment: Meet Gary Turner
03/25/2024 | Barry Matties, I-Connect007Meet Gary Turner, a recent graduate from the University of Texas at Dallas with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s in material science and engineering. He is currently seeking employment in the industry. The following interview will allow you to learn about Gary and see if he might be a good candidate for a position you are looking to fill.