Tomachie is the brainchild of CJ Clark, a veteran test engineer with a background in JTAG and boundary scan technology, not to mention five patents under his belt. He is also CEO of Intellitech, Tomachie's sibling company.

CJ spoke with Andy Shaughnessy about Tomachie, what AI can and can't do, and why he wishes his team had access to a tool like this 25 years ago.

They discuss their career paths, finding mentors, and adjusting to a male-heavy industry with PCEA managing editor Ryann Howard. 

Stop by and chat with Jokanovic in person at PCB East 2026. Breadboard will be exhibiting on April 29 at the DCU Center in Worcester, MA.

In this interview, Wally discusses the results for the fourth quarter of 2025, which marks the 20th consecutive quarter of year-on-year growth. What are the drivers behind this winning streak, and what "soft spots" should be on our radar screens?

Karen will be speaking at PCB East 2026, and she offers a preview of what attendees can expect to learn in her class, "EMC 101 - Fundamentals," which takes place April 30 at the DCU Convention Center in Worcester, MA. 

Bright has more than 35 years of technology and management experience, including three years at IoT company Jiva, where he was CEO, and 13 at the engineering firm Synapse, which he co-founded and was CEO.

Bright has designed hardware from back of the envelope sketch to high volume manufacturing for everything from commercial to the highest-reliability applications. As a career hardware developer, he understands the software problems endemic to product development.

He discusses Cadstrom's new platform for catching errors the ERC flow misses with Andy Shaughnessy and Mike Buetow of PCEA.

We discuss:

• The latest PCB/MCB design tool market data
• The 19-quarter streak of year-over-year gains (can it continue?)
• The massive spike in Asia sales
• The remarkable resilience of the Americas in maintaining ECAD market share
• The employment growth -- will everyone eventually work in ECAD?

While at GM, she started work toward her master’s at Wayne State University in Detroit. Last year, she was part of the first PCEA Certified Printed Circuit Designer course taught as part of a university curriculum.

She speaks with Mike Buetow on her evolving role at GM, her college preparation for electronics engineering, and how the CPCD class altered her career arc from semiconductor methodology to designing and building boards.

• What are the best practices for selecting a contract manufacturer?
• What common mistakes do companies make when working with a CM—especially in communication and hand-offs?
• How can design-for-manufacturability feedback prevent problems down the road?
• What should customers know about transitioning from prototypes to volume production?
• And how can contract manufacturers help ensure long-term product reliability, not just passing initial tests?

If you’re an OEM evaluating partners, an engineer preparing to hand off a design, or someone interested in how contract manufacturers contribute to product reliability, this episode is packed with insights.

Today, we're diving into a topic that's reshaping how we think about thermal management, energy efficiency, and long-term performance in electronics manufacturing—low temperature soldering. Joining Mike Konrad is Dr. HongWen Zhang, principal metallurgist and R&D manager of the Alloy Group at Indium Corporation.

Dr. Zhang is not only a seasoned materials scientist with a Ph.D. in materials science and engineering, a master’s in materials science and engineering and in mechanical engineering and a bachelor’s in metallurgical physical chemistry he’s also coinventor of Durafuse, a family of solder alloys that are redefining what's possible at low reflow temperatures—which, reportedly, does not compromise reliability.

In this episode, we’ll explore how low temperature solders are helping manufacturers lower energy consumption, protect heat-sensitive components, and still meet the rigorous mechanical and environmental demands of today’s electronics—from wearables to wafer-level packaging. We’ll also talk about the challenges of brittleness, drop shock resistance, activation and encapsulation of no clean activators, and how cutting-edge materials research is solving problems that used to be considered trade-offs.

Whether you’re a reliability engineer, a process expert, or just solder-curious, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

Since we last spoke, Flux has built out its platform with a variety of tools for design planning, parts searching, netlist generation, design review, firmware coding and testing and debugging, to name a few.

We discuss

• AI-powered PCB design challenges
• Language prompting capabilities 
• Democratization of product design, and
• Technical specifications and platform limits.

Today, we’re continuing our deep dive into the world of soldering materials, from advanced alloys and flux chemistries to global manufacturing strategy and materials innovation, with one of the industry’s most respected leaders. Joining Mike Konrad is Ross Berntson, president and CEO of Indium Corp.

Berntson has been with Indium for nearly 30 years, starting as a product specialist and rising through the ranks with leadership roles in product management, technical support, and international operations. He even spent time leading Indium’s Asia Holdings while based in Singapore, strengthening the company’s presence across Southeast Asia. In his current role as CEO, Berntson sets the strategic direction for a global materials powerhouse, one that’s known not only for its high-performance soldering products but for its commitment to innovation, collaboration, and engineering support through the company’s “One Engineer to Another” philosophy.

Berntson holds degrees in chemistry, teaching and an MBA from Cornell University, where he earned several prestigious academic awards. He’s also deeply engaged in both the electronics industry and his community, serving on multiple boards and leading with a strong emphasis on culture, opportunity, and respect, the core of what Indium calls “The Indium Way.”

In this episode, we’ll discuss how soldering materials are evolving to meet the demands of modern electronics, from miniaturization and harsh environments to UHDI and advanced packaging. We’ll also talk about Indium’s unique positioning in the industry, the challenges of global supply chains, and what the future of soldering looks like from the vantage point of a company that’s helped shape it.

This chat, we discuss the long PCB/MCM design tool rally, a massive jump in employment. broader strength across the ECAD industry, and the effects US policies toward China are having on the market.

Noting some $15 billion or more is wasted each year in unused or obsoleted components, Upshur founded Mobius to provide a platform for trading excess inventory much in the way Wall Street brokers trade stocks. 

We discuss her model for a sustainable, resilient supply chain; why the buyers and sellers on the Mobius platform can trade anonymously; as well as the PCB Community Meetup featuring a panel on the Ever-Changing Procurement Environment Mobius is sponsoring at PCB West on Oct. 1.

00:00 Introduction & Episode Overview

02:12 Meet Victoria Rawinsky: Expertise & Industry Impact

05:09 Social Media Challenge & Making Science Accessible

09:09 Humidity in Electronics: The Science & Risks

15:12 Types of Humidity & Effects on Materials

20:04 Manufacturing Shortcuts & Hidden Failures

25:30 Real-World Reliability Failures & Case Studies

31:02 Miniaturization, Board Layout & ECM

35:52 Best Practices: Cleanliness, Coatings & Moisture Mitigation

41:32 Material Choices, Standards & the Invisible Risks

45:51 The Smell Test: Practical Tips & Final Thoughts

47:16 Upcoming Events & Community Involvement

48:18 Outro & How to Stay Connected

He talks about some of the issues designers are running into, his upcoming presentations at PCB West, and the design-related programs at the college level, where he has been teaching of late.

Terry's journey is as inspiring as it is innovative, leading a national movement for a more reliable and equitable EV charging network. With backgrounds in workforce development, clean tech, and digital operations, she’s uniquely positioned to tackle the challenges facing this growing industry. In this episode, we’ll explore the common causes of EV charger failures, the role data plays in predictive maintenance, the impact of new regulations like the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) standards, and how ChargerHelp! is creating pathways into the clean energy economy for workers from all walks of life. If you've ever wondered how reliability translates to the EV world, or how technology and workforce innovation go hand in hand, you won’t want to miss this conversation.

Chapters:

00:00:00 Revolutionizing EV Charger Reliability with Charger Help

00:02:14 Meet Camille Terry, Entrepreneur and Innovator

00:04:15 Starting ChargerHelp: A Journey from EV Connect to Entrepreneurship

00:06:16 The Impact of Pollution on EV Adoption

00:08:37 Understanding Reliability as a Service Model

00:10:35 Benefits of Reliability as a Service Model

00:12:40 Optimizing Asset Performance with Data Insights

00:14:56 Common Causes of EV Charger Failures

00:16:50 Reducing Mean Time to Repair in Software

00:18:47 Evolution of Memory Cost and Data Collection

00:21:06 Challenges in EV Charger Reliability and Failures

00:23:28 Emerging Leaders in European EV Infrastructure

00:25:37 Workforce Development in EV Infrastructure

00:27:42 Impact of California's EV Charging Reliability Act

00:29:20 Tesla Charging Stations: Leading Reliability Standards

00:31:42 Automotive Firmware Failures: Responsibility and Transparency

00:34:32 Planning for Robust System Configurations

00:36:33 Future Trends in the EV Charging Industry

00:37:36 The Rise of Charger and Smart Engineering

00:39:26 The Rise of Slate EV and Building Great Electric Vehicles

00:41:25 Human Connection in Technology

00:43:24 Importance of Profitability in Business Strategy

00:45:20 The Role of Cash in Business Operations

00:47:26 Conclusion and Podcast Schedule

We discuss the organization's latest annual meeting, the changing political environment, competition with China, and potential incentives.

Also covered:

• The expanding ecosystem supporting a federal industry policy
• Potential tax credits for manufacturing boards onshore
• Avoiding single points of failure in the supply chain
• A change in tactics but not goals for garnering federal support for the electronics industry
• Congressional visits to domestic manufacturers
• The pursuit of skilled labor

The good news: sales of PCB/MCM design software were up 5.5% to $399.8 million for the quarter, the 17th straight period of growth. Strength in Asia-Pacific offset slower results in some other regions.  The four-quarter moving average for PCB and MCM rose 8.9%.

The Americas, the largest reporting region by revenue, procured almost $2.21 billion of electronic system design products and services in Q1 2025, a 14% increase. 

Listen to the podcast for more data and analysis, including thoughts on tariffs.

Chapters:

00:00:00 Common Failures in ERP Implementations and How to Fix Them

00:02:20 Transitioning from Calcot to Open Jar 

00:04:07 Embracing Innovative Ideas with Open Jar Philosophy

00:07:47 Why Your ERP Implementation Failed and How to Fix It

00:08:06 The Challenges of SAP and ERP Implementations

00:10:00 The Importance of Second Opinions in ERP Implementations

00:12:05 Common Misconceptions in ERP Implementation 

00:13:57 Navigating the Learning Curve in New Systems

00:15:53 Key Criteria for Successful Project Implementation

00:17:42 Identifying Unique Strengths in EMS Companies 

00:19:39 Challenges in Change Management for EMS Software

00:21:47 Early Warning Signs of a Failing ERP System

00:23:34 Navigating ERP Implementation Challenges

00:25:40 Keeping Cool Under Pressure: A Guide to Effective Problem Solving

00:27:32 Importance of ERP Functionality Prioritization 

00:29:33 Navigating ERP Implementation Changes 

00:31:56 Balancing Efficiency with Employee Discomfort in ERP Systems

00:33:22 Importance of Structured Approach in Consulting 

00:35:29 Challenges in Software Implementation 

00:37:40 The Challenges of Implementing Systems in Small Businesses

00:39:47 Challenges of Scaling a Business with Automation

00:41:55 Essential Strategies for Successful ERP Implementation 

00:43:55 Insights with Serial Entrepreneur Chintan Sataria

00:45:56 Podcast Updates and Listener Engagement

Live from the show floor at PCB East in May, cofounder Phil Gulley and VP of marketing Libby Melton join Matt Leary, Geoffrey Hazelett and Mike Buetow to discuss the company's procurement process tools and software integrations.

• Gerald Gardner, global product manager at Weller, a manufacturer of hand soldering equipment fume extraction systems, and precision tools.
• Mike Young – CEO OF SASinno Americas, a manufacturer of wave and selective soldering equipment.

The guests are:

• • Greg Beck, director of sales at Absolute EMS, a contract manufacturer.
  • Brian Watson, cofounder of HyRel Technologies, a global provider of quickturn semiconductor modification solutions.
  • Keith Sweatman, technical advisor at Nihon Superior, a manufacturer of soldering materials

Recorded live on the show floor at PCB East 2025.

Frank Mullaney, director of roadmapping, and Emma Hudson, new project manager, discuss some of the consortium’s ongoing projects, including new content on PCB test methods, solders, and laminates.

Mullaney has a Ph.D. in electronic engineering from University College Dublin, and spent 20 years in managerial and technical roles for Bell Labs, where he worked on a range of wireless and networking technologies, and established Bell Labs’ Internet of Things research program. He is also cochair of the Complex Integrated Systems section of the INEMI Roadmap.

Hudson previously was distinguished member of technical staff at from Underwriter’s Labs, and has a bachelor’s in materials engineering from Coventry University, and worked in the automotive electronics sector in three continents. 

In particular, Britton and Matsiuk are focused on developing an AI solution for the PCB manufacturing industry. Among the topics discussed are roadblocks US companies face to develop a smart factory in which AI systems communicate with equipment, and how the public solution could involve an open AI model partnership.

Recorded live on the show floor at PCB East 2025.

We discuss the ECAD formats that Allspice engages with, the templates used, why GitHub matters for software teams, and the company's target markets.

Recorded live on the show floor at PCB East 2025.

00:03:45 The Role of Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA)

00:05:00 Acquisition by PCA and Leadership Changes

00:07:17 Enhancing Careers in Circuit Board Design and Engineering

00:09:36 Collaboration in Electronics Design and Assembly

00:11:47 Unique Challenges in Board Fabrication and Design

00:14:58 The Challenges of Consistency in CM (Contract Manufacturing)

00:16:17 Diverse Strategies in Electronics Manufacturing

00:18:41 The Future of Complex Component Design

00:21:08 Understanding Moore's Law and Its Implications

00:23:39 The Impact of Tariffs on Manufacturing and Consumer Costs

00:26:09 Challenges in Relocating Manufacturing Operations

00:28:26 Challenges in Building State-of-the-Art Semiconductor Fabs

00:30:47 Supply Chain Challenges and Resiliency

00:33:15 Supply Chain Vulnerabilities in Military Manufacturing

00:35:48 Impact of Trade Wars on Manufacturing Industries

00:38:12 The Role of AI in Data Analysis and Assembly

00:40:40 The Evolution of Memory Chips and Data Collection

00:43:25 AI in Pattern Recognition Across Industries

00:45:55 The Concept of Engineer Residuals: A New Incentive in Technology Adoption

00:48:33 Advice for Young Professionals in a Rapidly Evolving Industry

00:50:54 The Role of Naivety in Revolution and Evolution

00:53:15 Networking Opportunities at PCB Trade Shows

Rhines details highlights from the fourth quarter 2024, which was another record-setting period for PCB design tool sales as well as the other major EDA segments.

And he notes that while historically EDA does well in the first few quarters of industry downturns, there are concerns for what the looming tariff battles will bring down the road.

First, host Mike Konrad recorded it not in his studio but at the SMTA Pan Pacific Strategic Electronics Symposium, affectionately known as PanPac, in beautiful Maui, Hawaii.

Each year, Mike records a Reliability Matters podcast at PanPac. Normally, the format of the show is to ask questions and the guests provide answers. On this episode however, the guests do all the talking.

The theme of this episode is Electronics: Down Memory Lane and a Vision for the Future. The guests on this episode share their view of the history of electronics from three different perspectives:

• Dr. Ron Lasky, Dartmouth College
• Dr. John Evans, Auburn University
• Dr. Tom Duval, Auburn University.

They share their perspectives on the history of the electronics industry in presentation format.

This episode contains three short PowerPoint presentations, which can be viewed in the video version of this podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlDYgZ6Hv6w

About a month ago, DigiKey, one of the largest distributors of electronic components in the world, and EMA Design Automation announced the integration of DigiKey's myLists tool with EMA UItra Librarian's UltraBOM bill of materials management software.

The benefit, they say, is that designers and engineers will have access to DigiKey's parts within their OrCAD Capture environment and can then seamlessly send a bill of materials to DigiKey.

Gopu Achath, vice president of technology at EMA Design Automation, and Cody Walseth, digital product owner at DigiKey, join Mike Buetow to discuss the new collaboration. 

With global supply chains recently under immense pressure from disruptions, shortages, and growing complexity, the need for smarter, more efficient solutions has never been greater.  And what better way to explore this than by discussing the cutting-edge role of AI-powered supply chain management software.

Mike Konrad's guest is Sebastian Schaal, the founder and CEO of Luminovo, a company at the forefront of transforming how supply chains are managed in the electronics industry. Sebastian Schaal is the founder of Luminovo, a leading software provider revolutionizing the electronics supply chain.  He holds two master's degrees—one in electrical and computer engineering from the Technical University of Munich and another from Stanford University, where he was a Fulbright scholar focusing on management and computer science.  Before founding Luminovo, Schaal gained diverse industry experience, working on AI algorithms for signal processing and computer vision at Intel and robotics companies NavVis and Magazino. 

Additionally, he served as a consultant at McKinsey, advising on data strategy. Sebastian and his team are leveraging artificial intelligence to streamline processes, enhance collaboration, and future-proof supply chain operations.  In this episode, we'll explore how AI is reshaping supply chain management, the unique challenges facing the electronics industry, and what companies can do to stay ahead in an ever-changing global landscape.  This conversation is packed with insights you won't want to miss. So, sit back, relax, and get ready to learn about the innovations that are revolutionizing supply chains worldwide. 

00:39:56 Optimizing Battery Performance in Electric Cars 00:42:36 Advanced Lithium Iron Phosphate Cells   00:45:24 Battery Regulations Impact and Safety Standards 00:48:05 Battery Safety and Standards in Consumer Electronics 00:50:49 Quality and Safety in Consumer Vs. Industrial Battery Cells 00:53:25 The Importance of Proper Battery Recycling 00:56:05 Lithium Iron Phosphate vs. Nickel Metal Hydride Batteries 00:59:51 Humor and Technology: Creating Engaging Content

"The cost of a component isn't just the cost of a component. It's the cost to the planet."

That's what Kenny McGee, chief executive of Component Sense, says. Component Sense is an Edinburgh, Scotland-based company that leads electronic manufacturers toward zero waste. It takes brand-new, perfectly good excess components and redistributes them to other manufacturers for use. 

We talk about the market for recycled electronics, how major OEMs are circumventing European Union reuse and recycling laws, what companies can do with excess stock, and the horrific conditions at a reclaim dump in Agbogbloshie, Ghana, that inspired him to make a documentary. 

The conversation covers heterogeneous packaging, interposers, the density scale equation, silicon to systems, die desgregation, and photonics, among others. 

Part 1 discusses the supply chain situation and how the industry can adapt.

In Part 1 of a two part podcast, Geoffrey Leeds of Leeds AI joins Matt Leary (Newgrange Design), Geoffrey Hazelett (FreedomCAD) and Mike Buetow (PCEA) to discuss the supply chain situation and how the industry can adapt.

Part 2 covers the semiconductor/packaging/PCB technology stack.

00:00:00 The Future of Transportation with Electric Vehicles

00:02:48 Fascination with Electric Vehicles 

00:06:03 The Dilemma of Electric Vehicles: A Personal Story 

00:09:12 Global Automotive Industry Trends 

00:12:22 The Simplicity of EV Design vs. Combustion Engines 

00:15:25 Notorious Tech Launch Strategies 

00:18:22 Stress on Electric Vehicle Components

00:21:34 Differences in EV Charging Technology

00:24:23 Optimal Conditions for EV Battery Performance

00:27:15 Safety Debate: Lithium-ion Batteries vs. Gasoline Engines

00:30:28 The Evolution of Safer Battery Chemistries

00:33:45 Challenges with EV Charging Infrastructure

00:37:22 EV Charging Station Failures: Understanding the 26% Rate

00:40:30 Environmental Challenges for Electronics in Unusual Locations

00:43:32 Quality Control in Electronics Manufacturing 

00:46:29 Tesla Charging Stations: Reliability and Self-Reporting 

00:49:30 Challenges with Remote EV Charging Stations 

00:52:35 Adoption of Tesla's Charging Standard in North America

00:55:41 Evolution of High-Reliability Alloys in Automotive

00:58:44 The Future of Autonomous Vehicles in Traffic Management

01:01:39 Future of Autonomous Transportation

01:04:42 Localization Trends in EV Manufacturing

01:07:43 The Promise of Flying Cars and Exponential Tech Growth

01:10:36 Introduction to Reliability Matters Podcast

Our guest Wally Rhines offers the latest data and analysis of the electronic design market, which saw strength in the Americas and Europe offsetting dips in Asia and Japan. He also offers comments on how the latest merger announcements (Synopsys-Ansys, Renesas-Altium, Siemens-Altair) might impact the data trends. And he discusses how funds from the Chips Act may (or may not) show up in future EDA sales. 

David Schild, executive director of the Printed Circuit Board Association of America, joins Mike Buetow to discuss what the expected priorities of the incoming administration, how they align with the goals of PCBAA’s members, their strategy for continuing the progress on tax benefits and other financial incentives within the US Congress, and the need for a bipartisan approach for global industrial policy.

Chapters:

00:00:00 Introducing the Hosts of Decode Podcast

00:02:37 Key Factors in Choosing a Contract Manufacturer

00:05:53 Evolution of Contract Manufacturers

00:06:20

00:08:03 Evolution of Manufacturing Technology and Job Dynamics

00:10:34 Challenges with Stencil Rigidity 

00:13:19 Challenges in Contract Manufacturing for High-Requirement Industries 

00:15:57 Advanced Techniques in Moisture Sensitive Electronics

00:18:31 Advantages of Board Fabrication and Design Knowledge in Contract Assembly

00:21:18 Improving PCB Design for Manufacturing Efficiency

00:24:04 Overcoming Manufacturing Challenges with PCB Finishes

00:26:52 Debate on Gloss vs. Matte in PCB Soldering

00:29:31 Advances in SMT Stencil Materials and Technologies

00:32:26 The Challenges of Stencil Printing 

00:35:15 The Idea Behind the Podcast 

00:37:42 Insights from PCB Manufacturing Experts

00:40:19 Collaborating in Competitive Spaces 

00:42:54 Starting a Podcast: Challenges and Solutions

00:45:38 Overcoming Podcast Challenges 

00:48:26 The Shift from In-Person Networking to Digital Collaboration

00:51:18 The Evolution of Networking and Conferences 

00:54:05 Career Opportunities in Engineering 

00:56:37 The Value of IPC Certifications in SMT Production

00:59:37 Influencers in the Electronic Assembly Industry

01:02:12 How to Engage with Reliability Matters Podcast

From wearable technology and medical devices to aerospace systems and consumer electronics, the use of flexible circuits has expanded rapidly, bringing with it both opportunities and challenges.

In this episode, we’ll explore the evolution of flexible circuit technology, discussing its key benefits, such as lightweight construction, enhanced durability, and improved design freedom.  We’ll also touch on the manufacturing complexities, material considerations, and the critical role that process control plays in ensuring reliability and performance. Mike Konrad's guest today is Joseph Fjelstad. Joe is the founder of Verdant Electronics. Joseph Fjelstad has been active in electronics manufacturing since 1972 in various roles, including as a chemist, process engineer, and R&D manager. He holds nearly 190 US patents and numerous foreign ones. 

He is an internationally recognized expert, inventor and lecturer in the field of electronics interconnection technology and a veteran of several startup companies, including: Beta Phase, ELF Technologies, MetaRAM, Silicon Pipe, and Tessera (now the public company, Xperi). Some of Joe’s innovative devices and novel reliability improving IC packaging structural features are found in nearly every electronic device made today.  He is also an author, co-author or editor of several books on interconnection technology, including Flexible Circuit Technology 4th Edition, the most widely distributed reference book on the topic, Chip Scale Packaging for Modern Electronics, and Solderless Assembly For Electronics — The SAFE Approach.  In addition, Fjelstad has written hundreds of articles, columns and commentaries for various industry magazines and journals over the last five decades. And today, he’s the guest on my show. 00:00:00 Importance of Flexible Circuits in Modern Electronics   00:02:42 Exploring the World of Flexible Circuits   00:05:30 Introduction to Flexible Circuits: A Historical Perspective 00:08:43 Entrepreneurship Mindset: Naivety and Innovation 00:11:08 The Value of Naivety in Engineering   00:13:43 Innovations in Bubble Printing Technology   00:16:47 Understanding Flex Circuits: Applications and Challenges 00:19:58 The Lifespan and Failure of Torsion Bars   00:22:21 Evolution of Soldier Technology: From Heads-Up Displays to Wearables 00:25:24 The Origins of the Integrated Circuit 00:28:13 Advances in Microelectronics: From Printed Transistors to Modern Tech 00:31:28 Challenges and Solutions in Flexible Circuit Design 00:34:00 Collaborative Design for Efficient Manufacturing   00:36:49 Advances in Flexible HDI and the Upcoming Ultra HDI Conference   00:39:46 Evolution of Flexible Circuits: From 1903 to Present    00:42:40 Innovating Flexible Circuits   00:45:13 Evolution of Toll Road Technology 00:48:08 The Future of Flexible and Stretchable Circuits 00:51:53 Introduction to Verdant Electronics   00:54:46 The Military's Stance on Lead-Free Technology   00:56:27 Innovating Solderless Technology 00:59:18 Insights on Persistence and Success in Entrepreneurship

  As the demand for smaller, faster, and more powerful devices grows, the need for innovative solutions in circuit design has never been greater. UHDI's represent a significant leap forward, allowing for more connections in a smaller space, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in electronic assemblies. But what exactly are ultra-high-density interconnects? Essentially, they refer to circuit boards with incredibly fine pitch interconnects, enabling higher functionality and complexity in much smaller form factors. 

This breakthrough is transforming industries like consumer electronics, aerospace, automotive, and medical devices, where space, weight, and performance are critical factors. In this episode, we’ll explore the advantages UHDI's bring to the table, from increased design flexibility and performance to better thermal management. We'll also discuss how UHDI's are set to impact the assembly process. With tighter tolerances and more intricate layouts, UHDI assemblies will require new approaches to assembly, inspection, and reliability testing. To better explain UHDI technology, we’ve put together a panel of subject matter experts. Tara Dunn, director of training and education at SMTA, will moderate a panel discussion with other subject matter experts, including Anaya Vardya, CEO, of American Standard Circuits; Chrys Shea from Shea Engineering Services; Michael Sivigny, owner and general manager of CeTaQ Americas; and Oren Manor, Op-Center core program business director at Siemens Digital Industries Software. UHDI is here! And if you haven’t seen it on your assembly line yet, it’s coming, so stay tuned as we unpack the future of ultra-high-density interconnects and what it means for the next generation of technology.

Chapters:

00:00:00 Understanding Thermal Profiling in Circuit Assemblies 

00:05:19 Evolution of a Manufacturing Business 

00:08:00 Understanding Thermal Profiling in Electronics Soldering

00:10:36 Strategies for Circuit Assembly Insulation 

00:13:10 Challenges in Sourcing Obsolete Electronic Components

00:15:48 Challenges in Heat Dissipation for 5G and 6G Electronics

00:18:54 Choosing the Right Thermocouple: K Type vs. Others

00:21:35 Challenges with High-Temperature Materials

00:24:04 Determining Thermal Couples for Optimal Measurement

00:26:39 Innovations in Profiling Equipment Technology

00:29:24 Innovations in Display Screens and Risk Mitigation

00:31:55 Cost-Benefit Analysis of Data Loggers 

00:34:31 Importance of Calibration Intervals in Industry 

00:37:02 The Role of Data Logging in Thermal Profiling

00:39:30 Optimizing Reflow Oven Settings with Predictive Software

00:42:18 Easy Button vs. Detailed Work: Software Development Insights

00:45:20 Common Mistakes in Using Thermal Profilers 

00:47:37 Optimizing Thermocouple Measurements in Electronics 

00:50:08 Understanding Thermal Barriers and Heat Management

00:52:22 Understanding Thermal Dissipation Challenges

00:54:59 The Importance of Third-Party Auditors in Manufacturing

00:57:32 Insights on Thermal Profiling and Bespoke Solutions

00:59:54 Podcast Contact and Closing Remarks

Our guest Wally Rhines offers his typical informed assessment of the latest market numbers, noting the particular strength in core areas such as analysis and library data management tools. And he discusses how the rapid rise of EDA startups today compares to a similar upswing in the 1980s. 

As founder and president of Precision Circuit Technologies, Rathburn helps commercialize the Minneapolis area company’s high-performance, high-density printed circuits, electrical interconnects, and advanced materials for the next generation of semiconductors, electronics, and systems.

He discusses PCT's technologies, in particular with liquid crystal polymer, and its use of both additive and conventional processes to build lines and spaces down to 6 microns. He also details PCT's zero-discharge processing, and licensing approach.

Chapters:

00:00:00 Importance of Soldering Materials in Electronics Reliability

00:02:06 Evolution in Soldering: From Lead to Lead-Free

00:03:53 Trends in Automotive Industry Adaptations

00:05:59 Understanding High Reliability in Different Industries

00:08:04 Enhancing Material Reliability for Safety-Critical Applications

00:10:12 Classifications of Reliability in Electronics 

00:12:29 Selecting Solder Paste for Wearable Devices in Harsh Conditions

00:14:29 Ensuring Reliability in Electronics 

00:16:27 Understanding Electrochemical Reliability in Circuit Design

00:18:27 Understanding No-Clean Solder Paste Reliability 

00:20:29 Choosing the Right Powder for SMT Applications

00:22:37 Understanding Type Numbers and Their Industry Impact

00:24:44 Addressing Environmental Concerns in Soldering Materials 

00:26:52 Achieving Sustainability Goals with Recycled Tin 

00:29:00 The Benefits of Zero Discharge Practices

00:30:56 Thermomechanical and Electrochemical Reliability Challenges

00:32:59 Emerging Trends in the Electronics Industry

00:34:54 Challenges in Thermomechanical and Electrochemical Reliability 

00:36:53 Standardization and Industry Collaboration

00:38:56 Best Practices for Consumer Buying Habits in Electronics

00:41:05 Future Trends in Electronics Reliability 

00:43:16 Embracing Change in Electronics Assembly Industry

00:45:12 Evolving Soldering Materials and Environmental Standards

00:47:01 How to Engage with the Reliability Matters Podcast

Duncan Haldane, CEO and cofounder, talks with Mike Buetow about the JITX platform, which proposes to rethink and simplify the way electronics are designed by using common language instead of machine code to realized complex ideas as a product design, overcoming legacy technology, and working on the desktop instead of the cloud. 

And (teaser alert), listen for an announcement about the premiere PCB Design Community event taking place on October 9 at PCB West at the Santa Clara (CA) Convention Center.

From commercial, class 1 electronics to high-reliability class 3 electronics, the intricate electronic devices we rely on daily are assembled with astonishing precision. This precision wouldn't be possible without the aid of advanced optical microscopes. These remarkable instruments allow technicians and engineers to inspect, analyze, and ensure the quality of electronic components down to the minutest detail. In this episode, we'll uncover how optical microscopes have impacted electronic assembly, enhancing productivity, ensuring reliability, and driving innovation.  One of the unique benefits microscopes provide, particularly in hand soldering applications, is the ability to view and solder the assembly under high magnification through the microscope. Obviously, this is not something any AOI system can perform. But microscopes are not limited to soldering applications. One of the most critical applications of optical microscopes in the electronic assembly industry is the inspection of circuit assemblies for quality assurance. Circuit assemblies are the heart of many products, comprising numerous, highly miniaturized components and connections that must be flawlessly integrated. Even the smallest defect, such as a microscopic crack or an improperly soldered joint, can lead to significant malfunctions or failures. Optical microscopes enable detailed inspection of these assemblies, allowing quality control professionals to identify and rectify issues that would be invisible to the naked eye. 

By providing high-resolution images and magnification, these microscopes help in detecting defects, ensuring correct alignment and polarity of components, and verifying the integrity of solder joints. This meticulous inspection process is crucial for maintaining the reliability and performance of electronic devices, ultimately ensuring customer satisfaction and, in many cases, safety. We'll hear from two industry experts who will share insights on the latest technological advancements and how these tools are indispensable in maintaining the high standards of modern electronics. Nili Walp is marketing manager at Vision Engineering, a manufacturer of microscopes design for various industries, including the Electronics assembly industry, where she has worked for over eight years. Walp earned a bachelor's in communications from Boston University. Richard Nagel is vice president of sales and marketing at Vision Engineering where he has worked for over 21 years. Nagel and Walp will share insights on the latest technological advancements and how these tools are indispensable in maintaining the high standards of modern electronics.

  Chapters: 00:00:00 - Impact of Optical Microscopes on Electronic Assembly 00:02:18 - Latest Technological Advancements with Industry Experts. 00:04:49 - Vision Engineering's Origins and Innovations 00:07:40 - The Invention of the Boroscope 00:09:57 - The Importance of Magnification in Electronics Assembly 00:12:34 - Advancements in Microscope Technology 00:15:07 - The Game Changer in Microscopy: Eyeless Microscopes 00:17:34 - Ergonomic Advancements in Microscopy 00:20:06 - Advancements in Microscope Technology 00:22:29 - Applications of Microscope Technology 00:24:56 - Types of Microscopes in the Biological Sciences Industry 00:27:38 - Microscope Applications and Considerations 00:30:20 - The Value of Human Intuition in Inspection 00:33:06 - Common Challenges in Microscopy 00:35:52 - Illumination for Surface Texture  00:38:30 - Common mistakes when purchasing microscopes 00:40:59 - Choosing the Right Microscope for Your Needs 00:43:35 - Microscope Illumination Techniques and Considerations 00:45:57 - Practical Magnification Levels in Electronics Industry 00:48:23 - Purchasing the Right Microscope 00:50:58 - Vision Goggles in Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality 00:53:43 - Demand for Technological Advancements in Younger Generations 00:56:19 - Ergonomics and Productivity in the Workplace 00:58:47 - Learn more about reliability matters podcast

That company, Breadboard, was officially launched with the very modest goal of revolutionizing the electronics supply chain management industry.

Designed to automate and expedite BoM processing, optimize component spend, and automate quoting processes, the Breadboard platform now boasts more than 60 EMS customers.

Feuerstein joins PCB Chat host Mike Buetow to explain the platform and his "Eureka" moment.

Back to the Chicago area. We’re back in Rosemont, co-located with the Assembly Show, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, October 20-24.  

Between SMTAI and the Assembly Show, there will be thousands of engineers and industry professionals in attendance.  The exhibit floor features hundreds of exhibitors showing off the latest technology. But the topic we're discussing today is the technical conference and other planned events taking place at this year’s SMTAI.  

This year, there are 11 scheduled professional development courses, about 100 technical presentations across seven technical tracks.

Joining Mike Konrad to discuss what’s in store for attendees is Jason Keeping, member of the SMTA Board where he is vice president of technical programs for SMTA. Jeff Kennedy, past SMTA president and director of the Manufacturing Excellence track, and Robert Boguski, member of the SMTA board where he is VP of membership and director of the Test and Inspection track.

• Kimberly Fagan from PVA • Taylor Wagan from CETEC ERP • Neil Hubble from Akrometrix

Recorded live in Anaheim, CA, during IPC Apex Expo.

Rhines comments on the quarterly data released by the ESD Alliance, shifts in demand from India and China, seasonal buying trends, employment and more.

This episode is sponsored by PCB Way, celebrating its 10th anniversary as a leading supplier in electronics manufacturing, known for high-quality PCB prototypes and assembly services.

Schild and Mike Buetow discuss the prospects of pending Congressional legislation to support the US PCB industry, the need for domestic substrate and bare board production to complete the triad of the semiconductor "stack," and a just-announced Commerce Department plan to allocate up to $1.6 billion in funding to support the packaging supply chain. 

While ocean depths, outer space, and frozen tundra are arguably harsh environments, we don’t have to look too far for examples of product failures in less harsh environments. One example that comes to mind is the state of public EV charging stations. Government reports have concluded that up to 25% of public EV chargers are at any given time. While there are many reasons for this, one may conclude they are not designed and manufactured for the intended in climactic operating environment.

On this episode, we'll uncover the numerous challenges that designers and engineers face in their quest for reliability, durability, and functionality of the final product. As we navigate through this complex landscape, we'll highlight the strategies that enable these products to not just survive but excel in unforgiving conditions.

Our navigator for this episode is, Dr. Andre Kleyner. Dr. Kleyner has 30 years of engineering, research, consulting, and managerial experience specializing in reliability of electronic and mechanical systems designed to operate in severe environments. He received a doctorate in mechanical engineering from the University of Maryland, and a master's of business administration from Ball State University. Dr. Kleyner is a Global Reliability Engineering Leader with Delphi Electronics & Safety and an adjunct professor at Purdue University. He is a Fellow of the American Society for Quality (ASQ), a Certified Reliability Engineer, Certified Quality Engineer, and a Six Sigma Black Belt. He also holds several US and foreign patents and authored multiple professional publications including two books on the topics of reliability, statistics, warranty management, and lifecycle cost analysis.

Nesterenko is founder and CEO of a new software company called Quilter, whose goal is to accelerate hardware development by fully automating circuit board design. His eureka moment came when an early design at a previous employer couldn't be autorouted, then after it was hand-routed and built, it caught on fire.

Listen to why the former Space X engineer thinks the margins designers build in are excessive and how AI-driven, physics-based platform can resolve and even violate some "human" rules and still generate superior printed circuit boards.  

If you’re new to this industry, stick around listen to Doug's advice to young people entering our world, the world of electronics assembly.

00:00:00 - Introduction to Doug Pauls' Career in the Electronic Assembly Industry

00:02:57 - Reliability Matters Podcast Introduction

00:06:04 - Sharing wisdom with early career individuals

00:09:34 - Hobbies Outside of Work

00:12:44 - The Minions and World Domination

00:16:23 - Overcoming Shyness through Theater and Public Speaking Lessons

00:19:41 - Lessons Learned from Skilled Trades People

00:23:03 - Working in the Department of the Navy

00:26:21 - Learning from Asking Questions and Trying New Things

00:29:38 - Learning from the Old Guys

00:33:05 - Participating in Standards Development

00:36:32 - The Power of Networking and Technical Committees

00:40:01 - The Value of Leadership Skills in Collaborative Industries

00:43:15 - Collaboration in the Electronics Industry

00:46:18 - Developing Valuable Skills in Problem-Solving

00:49:39 - Transitioning to Rockwell Collins

00:52:59 - The Four Pillars of Career Advancement at Collins Aerospace

00:56:32 - Finding Resources for Personal Growth

01:00:01 - Industry Updates and Resources

01:03:26 - The Value of Old Guy Stories

01:06:46 - The Importance of Understanding How Things are Made

01:10:08 - Retirement Plans, Consulting, and the Future

01:13:10 - An Unconventional Industry Presentation

01:15:59 - Thank You for Listening to the Reliability Matters Podcast

Audrey McGuckin is a global HR executive who for more than 25 years has lived and worked across the globe in Asia, Europe and the US.

She spent more than 20 years at Jabil, rising to vice president and chief talent officer. Today, as head CEO of The McGuckin Group, McGuckin consults with top CEOs and CHROs to solve complex business challenges through innovative talent and people solutions. Her client base includes a broad spectrum ranging from startups to Fortune 100 organizations.

She shares her thoughts and approach to business leadership, team building, managing employee movements and needs, and the power of empathy with PCB Chat host Mike Buetow.

Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to the Reliability Matters Podcast 00:01:35 - Introduction: Dr. Chuck Bower and Keith Bryant 00:03:23 - The Motivation Behind Starting IMAPS and SMTA 00:05:16 - Global Participation in the Event 00:07:25 - High Level Participants and Learning Experience 00:09:23 - The Conference of Interesting Things 00:11:01 - Speaking to the Thought Leaders of the Industry 00:12:40 - Preconceived Notions about the Event 00:14:26 - The Best Event for Networking and Fundamental Research 00:16:05 - Networking at Conferences 00:17:42 - The Advantage of Combining Innovation and Engineering 00:19:17 - Fostering Entrepreneurship among Students 00:20:57 - The Future of Young People 00:22:34 - Challenging Stereotypes about the New Generation 00:24:03 - Advice for Emerging Engineers and Technicians 00:27:17 - The Benefits of a Liberal Arts Education in Engineering 00:28:48 - Bringing Students to the Conference for Experience 00:30:11 - Entrepreneurship and Thinking Outside the Box 00:31:46 - The Value of Thinking like an Entrepreneur 00:33:22 - The Advantages of Ignorance in Starting a Business 00:34:51 - Throw caution to the wind and pursue your passions 00:36:25 - Appreciation and Thanks 00:37:49 - Stay Safe, Stay Happy, Stay Healthy

Chapters: 00:00:00 - The Importance of Optimization in Electronic Assembly 00:02:34 - Tape Splicing: Best Practices 00:05:12 - Tape Splicing and its Advantages in the Industry 00:07:42 - Continuous Tape Splicing 00:10:10 - Splicing Techniques in Machine Assembly 00:12:31 - Ensuring Quality and Reliability of Tape Splices 00:14:57 - The importance of alignment in splicing 00:17:21 - Types of Tapes and Their Impact on Splicing 00:19:54 - Challenges with Tape Splicing 00:22:09 - Adjusting Feeder Tension 00:24:25 - Splicing and Reel Management in the Industry 00:26:46 - Splicing Parts in the Electronics Industry 00:29:02 - Common Mistakes in Tape Splicing 00:31:34 - Issues with Tape Splicing 00:34:03 - The Crimping Tool and Tape Issues 00:36:25 - The Importance of Switching Techniques 00:38:53 - Improving Production Efficiency through Component Evaluation 00:41:44 - A demonstration of the old tape splicing method 00:44:08 - Splicing Tape Procedure Comparison 00:46:38 - Faster Splicing Technique 00:49:15 - The Negative Experiences with Splicing 00:51:55 - The Benefits of Splicing 00:54:22 - Transitioning from Technician to Salesman 00:56:40 - Conclusion and Farewell

Wally Rhines, executive sponsor of the SEMI Electronic Design Market Data report, gives his quarterly update on the state of the electronics design software market.

We spoke this month with Madan Jagernauth, marketing director and project facilitator of HDP, about their current research on lead-free solder alloys, the recent conference Best Papers, and whether the consortium members are ready to tackle artificial intelligence.

He works as a strategic account manager within MacDermid Alpha Electronics Solutions, on the global Business Development team for Circuitry Solutions. Mark has been involved in electronics manufacturing since the late 1980s and brings a passion for process automation, circuit assembly, solders/fluxes, adhesives, coatings and PCB fabrication – all with a focus on repeatability and reliability.  Edwards holds a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering technology from Oklahoma State University and began his career at a defense electronics company in Dallas, Texas, that was later acquired by Raytheon.  He has uncovered trends and synthesized customer needs for electronic hardware in the telecommunications, defense, automotive, industrial controls segments in the Americas, and now globally, in his newest role.

Chapters:

00:00:00 - The Pursuit of Environmentally Responsible Electronics Manufacturing

00:02:23 - Uncovering Trends in Electronic Hardware

00:04:56 - Circuit Board Fabrication and Environmental Responsibility

00:07:25 - The Changing Priorities of the Manufacturing Industry

00:09:40 - Green Alternatives to Traditional Circuit Boards

00:11:59 - Sustainable Alternatives to PCB Fabrication

00:14:21 - Fabrication Performance and Reliability

00:16:43 - Green PCB Fabrication Challenges and Obstacles

00:18:58 - The Challenges of Adopting Greener Solutions

00:21:22 - Environmental Sustainability in the Supply Chain

00:23:43 - Environmental Impact of PCB Fabrication Methods

00:28:20 - The Disappointment of EV 85 Fuel

00:31:07 - The Cost Implication of Going Green

00:33:31 - Recycling and the Circular Economy

00:35:55 - Recycling Circuit Boards and Extracting Precious Metals

00:38:15 - Simplifying the PCB Fabrication Process

00:40:40 - The Importance of Standards and Regulations in the Electronics Industry

00:42:54 - Demand for Environmental Responsibility in PCB Fabrication

00:45:10 - The Importance of Sustainability in the Supply Chain

00:47:20 - The Importance of Sustainability in Circuit Assembly

00:49:49 - Environmental Impact of Board Fabrication

00:52:02 - The Green Movement in Business

When spoke with Matthias last spring, the company was introducing Flux Copilot, an AI-powered hardware design assistant. Flux Copilot uses a large language model that the company’s engineers trained and integrated into its design tool.

Flux recently added vision capability to its signature tool, whereby users can upload photos of images such as block diagrams to CoPilot and it can recommend parts for their design.

This week, we talk about those advances, some real-use cases Flux is seeing, the Renesas-Altium merger, and more. 

Chapters:

00:00:00 - The Art and Science of Hand Soldering and Rework

00:03:01 - The Unique Art of Hand Soldering, Featuring Debbie Wade

00:06:30 - The History of Advanced Rework Technology (ART)

00:09:57 - The Impact of IPC Certification on Careers and Companies

00:13:14 - Investing in the Right Equipment for Soldering and Rework

00:16:22 - Controlling Heat in Soldering

00:19:24 - Creating the Heat Bridge

00:22:29 - Challenges in Soldering Electronic Components

00:25:39 - The Dangers of Using Soldering Guns for Electronics

00:28:32 - Common Mistakes in Hand Soldering

00:31:42 - The Importance of Flux in Soldering

00:34:38 - Proper Flux Application and Potential Issues

00:37:35 - The Problem of Flux Buildup on Test Points

00:40:50 - Appearance vs Function in Solder Joints

00:43:42 - Choosing the Right Soldering Iron

00:46:55 - Safety Precautions in Hand Soldering

00:49:50 - Appearance and Plating Issues

00:52:48 - Inspecting Different Classes of Products

00:55:39 - The importance of human control in machine programming

00:58:45 - Bespoke courses and certifications for inspectors

01:02:01 - The Importance of Proper Component Selection and Soldering

01:05:09 - Differences in Soldering Dummy Parts

01:08:04 - The Art of Hand Soldering

01:10:55 - The Importance of Reliability

Schild brings us up to date on the US Department of Defense's National Defense Industrial Strategy, how industrial production is tied to military readiness; the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party's December 2023 report on how to staunch the flow of IP offshore and rekindle tech leadership and economic resilience; and whether the US government plans to get into the manufacturing business.

We in electronics design and manufacturing know, of course, that automation is part and parcel of what we do. But while the landscape has changed, be it the transition from mechanical drawings to CAD tools with their autorouters, or from manual and semi-automatic printers and placement machines to lights-out factories where cobots have replaced operators, the industry still has a long, long way to go in terms of widespread implementation of AI, or even understanding what it all means.

Andrew Scheuermann joins Mike Buetow to share some perspective on this emerging technology. Scheuermann, along with his business partner Tim Burke, is cofounder and CEO of Arch Systems, a Silicon Valley-based developer of software tools that collect raw machine data and use predictive analytics to calculate manufacturing key performance indicators, or KPIs.

Scheuermann has published numerous scientific papers in the areas of semiconductors, electronics manufacturing, and renewable energy. He has a Ph.D. in Materials Science from Stanford, and is also part of StartX, a startup accelerator for company founders who are affiliated with Stanford that has invested over $200 million across various companies, including 13 now valued over $1 billion. 

To answer these other questions, Dr. Cassandra Zentner, VP of Health and environment at Actnano, a manufacturer of coating materials, talks with Reliability Matters host Mike Konrad.

Dr. Zentner earned a BA from Oberlin College and a Ph.D. in organic materials chemistry from MIT.

EMA president and founder Manny Marcano joins Mike Buetow to break down the thinking behind the new company, its products, management and distribution agreement, and gives his take on Cadence's thoughts.

ESD Alliance spokesperson Wally Rhines joins Mike Buetow to explain the latest data trends.

He will speak on Signal Integrity in Thin PCB Materials and IC Substrates at PCB East in June.

On this episode, I have no guests as this is the final episode of the Reliability Matters Podcast for the 2023 season. Instead, let's review what happened on the podcast this year. A special thanks to my guests and listeners/viewers for making this podcast so successful.

Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Reliability Matters Podcast

00:00:12 - The Electronic Assembly Industry Techniques

00:00:26 - Review of the 2023 Season

00:00:43 - Liquid Metal in Electronic Circuits

00:00:56 - Instant Solidification of Liquid Metal

00:01:14 - Counterfeit Component Detection

00:01:31 - Making Sense of Big Data in the Electronic Assembly Space

00:01:49 - IPC Apex Expo: Supply Chain Challenges

00:02:07 - Circuit Assembly Failures and Big Data Analysis

00:02:22 - Interview with David Raby on High Liability Contract Manufacturing

00:02:37 - Training for Effective and Entertaining Reliability

00:02:53 - "Fire Your Hiring Habits" with President and CEO of IPC

00:03:08 - Introduction to Highly Accelerated Life Testing

00:03:25 - 3,600 Mile Solo Kayak Journey Down the Missouri River

00:03:42 - Moisture Mitigation Best Practices

00:03:59 - Life as a Technical Consultant

00:04:14 - Network Reliability and Cybersecurity Threats

00:04:30 - Innovative Approaches to Education and Industry Icons

00:04:46 - Conformal Coating Materials with Lisa Rizzo

00:05:01 - Introduction to Wireless Wearable ESD Monitoring Device

00:05:16 - The Reliability of Circuit Assemblies

00:05:32 - Reliability of Circuit Assemblies and Emerging Technologies

00:05:47 - Increasing Challenges in Electronics Engineering

00:05:59 - The Silver Tsunami and Retirement

00:06:31 - Motivation for Starting the Podcast

00:06:45 - Gratitude for Support and Encouragement

00:06:59 - Gratitude for the Subject Matter Experts

07:13:00 - Acknowledging EMS Industry Experts

00:07:27 - Subscribe to the Podcast or YouTube Channel

00:07:39 - Release Schedule

00:07:55 - PCB Chat and Accendo Reliability

00:08:11 - Suggestions and Contact Information

00:08:26 - Wishing You a Joyous Holiday Season

We discuss major investment announcements by US PCB companies, industry funding from the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, the need for intense engagement at every level of government, and the latest on the Protecting Printed Circuit Boards and Substrates Act of 2023.

We talk about autorouting, simulation tools and teaching board design concepts on this edition of PCB Chat. 

For circuit assemblies, the protective embrace of conformal coatings ensures reliability, longevity, and performance. As technologies advance, so does the demand for innovative solutions to safeguard our electronic products.  Whether you're a seasoned industry professional, a curious tech enthusiast, or just someone who's new to the world of conformal coatings, this episode is your go-to source for in-depth information on the growing trend of applying conformal coating to circuit assemblies. So, join us as we peel back the layers, and immerse ourselves in the world of electronics protection, and learn how conformal coatings play a pivotal role in keeping our devices humming, even in the harshest environments. To better understand conformal coating, I invited Lisa Rizzo to the show. Rizzo is Senior Director of Strategy & Emerging Applications at HZO. HZO is a global leader and innovator in protective solutions that, according to them, “keep the world running.” They provide products to markets including consumer electronics as well as high-reliability markets including automotive, industrial, medical, and IoT to deliver a more resilient, reliable, and durable level of protection. HZO specializes in nanocoating solutions that safeguard electronics, electrical products & critical applications in an ever-changing market. 

Adding to the level of labor acquisition difficulties is the great “Silver Tsunami,” otherwise known as the great retirement. As mentioned on Reliability Matters episode 130, the fact is, Baby Boomers are entering retirement in greater numbers. According to government data, from now until 2030, 10,000 boomers will hit retirement age each day. Millions will begin to officially retire. Some of these retirees are designated subject matter experts within their companies. Not only are people retiring, they are taking with them a vault of valuable knowledge.

This has created an even larger demand for consultants within our industry. I’ve had several industry consultants on my show over the last few years, including today’s guest: legendary industry consultant, Bob Willis. If you’ve been in this industry longer than 18 seconds, there’s a good chance you’ve at least heard his name. If you’ve been in this industry for virtually any length of time, there’s a good chance you’ve seen his videos, read his books, or watched him present at numerous industry conferences and symposiums. If I reviewed Bob’s complete professional biography, it would take an entire episode.

During our conversation, we discussed Bob's newest book, Robotic Soldering Inspection and Defect Guide. Anyone who makes a donation to Bob's chosen charity will receive a download of his book as well as access to Bob's complete book collection:

• Robotic Soldering Inspection and Defect Guide
• Pin in Hole Intrusive Reflow Desing
• Assembly & Defect Guide Package
• On Package Assembly Inspection & Quality Control
• Solder Paste Print Inspection & Defect Guide
• Lead-Free Defect Guide 3
• Conformal Coating Inspection & Defect Guide
• QFN LGA Assembly Inspection & Defect Guide
• PCB Surface Finishes Inspection & Defect Guide
• Cleaning & Contamination Defect Guide

Click the following link for more information: https://www.justgiving.com/page/bob-willis-roboticsolderingbook

As a whole, ESD industry revenue increased 5.3% to $3.96 billion in the second quarter from $3.76 billion in the second quarter of 2022. The four-quarter moving average rose 9.5%.

Wally Rhines joins Mike Buetow to explain the latest data trends.

Several years ago, I was a speaker at the SMTA, Pan Pacific Strategic Electronics Symposium in Hawaii. I shared my breakfast table with a longtime colleague, Dr. Ron Lasky, a professor at Dartmouth College. Over the course of breakfast, he asked me how I got into this industry and, more specifically, how I started my company. Dr. Lasky is an engineering professor at Dartmouth’s Thayer School of Engineering. He also teaches entrepreneurship to his soon to be engineers. Dr. Lasky invited me to come speak to his students. I was more than happy to take him up on his offer, and I have spoken to his students on the subject of entrepreneurship every year for the past several years. I have been impressed by the emphasis on entrepreneurship within the Thayer School of Engineering. We live in a time of marvelous evolution within the electronics space. So many new and innovative electronic products are being introduced, fueled by IoT (Internet of Things), the electrification of automobiles, advances in communication, and so much more. Education is the bedrock of our industry. It is the foundation for which much of our industry and the products we make are built upon. I’ve had Dr. Lasky on my show several times, and I thought it would be a great idea to invite his boss, the dean of Dartmouth’s Thayer School of Engineering, onto the program. Dr. Alexis Abramson is the 13th dean of the Thayer School. Prior to joining Dartmouth, she was the Milton and Tamar Maltz Professor of Energy Innovation at Case Western Reserve University and served as a director of the university’s Great Lakes Energy Institute focused on creating sustainable energy technology solutions. During the Obama administration, Dr. Abramson served as chief scientist and manager of the Emerging Technologies Division at the US Department of Energy’s Building Technologies Program. In 2018, she served as technical adviser for Breakthrough Energy Ventures, a $1 billion effort launched by Bill Gates to combat human-driven climate change.

Dr. Abramson’s research has focused on novel techniques for thermal characterization of nanostructures, the design and synthesis of unique nanomaterials for use in alternative energy applications, virtual energy audits for building energy efficiency, and strategies to accelerate technology commercialization at universities and research institutions. Dr. Abramson earned a bachelor's and master's in mechanical engineering from Tufts University and a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering at the University of California, Berkeley.

What happens to our production line if the computers stop functioning? What would happen if our network ceases to operate? We’ve all witnessed the airline industry grind to a halt recently due to computer failures and connectivity issues. The fact is, very few industries can function properly or even at all if the computer systems fail. I’m not referring to quality issues within the computer or network’s internal circuit assemblies. I’m referring to malware, ransomware, and other nefarious actions brought on hackers with the intent to disrupt companies, industries, and governments, frequently with the goal of returning (or promising to return) your own data in exchange for an exorbitant payment.

Our industry, like many others is completely dependent on computers and connectivity. Without ether, most production lines will simply sit idle. How can we avoid this terrifying scenario? How do hackers gain access to our computers and networks? How can we add reliability to our computer and network policies and procedures?

To answer these and other related questions, we talked with network security expert Adrian Francoz, cofounder and CEO of Zeta Sky, a managed IT support and cybersecurity services company lives in the world of cyber security. He and his company protect their customer’s networks through the implementation of security best practices and constant training, both for his customers, and for his own staff. After all, hackers and other bad actors are hard at work searching for the next scam, vulnerability, and the opportunity to score a huge payday, all at our expense.

In the Southern California area? Consider attending the inland Empire cybersecurity summit on Thursday, October 26 at the Chaffey College InTech Center, 9400 Cherry Ave, Bldg A Fontana, CA 92335. Register here: https://www.zetasky.com/inland-empire-cyber-security-summit-2023

Madan Jagernauth, marketing director and a project facilitator, discusses recently completed programs on low silver solder paste reliability, copper surface roughness models, the Pb-Free bare board materials project updates, and HDP's upcoming meeting in October with PCB Chat's Mike Buetow.

To answer these and other questions, I’ve invited two of my favorite experts on to the show. If you’ve been in the electronics assembly industry for some amount of time, there’s little doubt you’ve heard of Phil Zarrow and Jim Hall. Phil has been involved with PCB fabrication and assembly for more than 36 years.

He is president and principal consultant of ITM Consulting. Jim Hall has been involved in the electronics assembly industry for the past 27 years. He’s a principal consultant and resident Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt with ITM Consulting. He’s also an instructor in the Lean Six Sigma programs offered at Dartmouth College. Together with Dr. Ron Lasky, Phil and Jim designed the SMTA’s SMT Processes Certification Course. A couple of years ago, Phil and Jim published a book titled “Troubleshooting Electronic Assemblies, Tales from the Board-Talk Crypt.”

Mike Konrad talks to them more about that book later in this broadcast. Phil and Jim host the popular audio series “Board Talk,” a question-and-answer show hosted on the Circuit-Insight website. On their show, you’ll hear serious questions, and often comical but real answers.

• Mold and mildew
• Rust
• Wood rot
• Damage to building materials
• Microbial growth
• And so much more.

In the electronics world, moisture creates a host of reliability problems including:

• Popcorning
• Delamination of conformal coating
• Corrosion
• Electrochemical migration
• Adhesion degradation (such as on labels and glues)
• And more.

We wanted to dive into moisture mitigation, so Mike Konrad invited two guests to discuss this very topic. Dan Jenkins is sales manager and partner of the Steel Camel, an industrial solutions company specializing in corrosion and water intrusion control for fuel systems and industrial equipment. Prior to Steel Camel, Dan worked as consultant and instructor in the crane accident prevention industry. He has consulted to large organizations such as Shell Oil, and the United States Department of Interior. Dan earned an MBA from the University of South Florida and earned his BA in Industrial Arts / Technology from Cal St. University Chico and his Post-Secondary Teaching Credential from San Francisco State University.

Bob Lowry has bachelor's and master's degrees in chemistry. His experience includes 31 years as sr. scientist and lab manager for three integrated circuit manufacturing companies, where measurement of moisture and moisture control activities were a major part of services he provided. He has 20 years of experience consulting to the microelectronics industry on a wide variety of topics including materials analysis and measurements and methods of moisture control for electronic components. Bob is also coauthor of the book Hermeticity of Electronic Packages.

Dan Jenkins' contact info: djenkins@steelcamel.com

https://www.steelcamel.com/

Bob Lowry's contact info: rlowry98@aol.com

This episode features many photographs taken by Dave Hillman on his journey. The video version showing the photographs is accessible here: https://youtu.be/7bThR5FQwHI

PCBAA was founded in 2021 to advance US domestic production of PCBs and base materials. The organization is made up of corporate members of all sizes, and includes fabricators, assemblers and suppliers.

This episode of PCB Chat is sponsored by PCB West, The Largest Conference and Exhibition for Printed Circuit Board Design, Fabrication and Assembly in the Silicon Valley, coming September 19-22 to the Santa Clara (CA) Convention Center.

On this episode of PCB Chat, Claire Wemp, Ph.D, a thermal applications engineer at DuPont, discusses TIM1 materials (and explains the difference between TIM1 and TIM2), when and where they are used, who specifies them, and how they work.

Wemp is also a member of the Society Women in Electronics, and in the second half of the podcast we talk about her experience in SWE, which dates to college, DuPont's role in recruiting, and how to bend the curve in attracting more women to STEM fields.

Dr. Christopher Jackson is a leader, engineer and logistic specialist who has helped many organizations work toward realizing business goals through improving the reliability of their products and processes. He is cofounder of online training company IS4, founder of Acuitis Reliability, established the Center for the Safety and Reliability of Autonomous Systems (SARAS) at UCLA after retiring as a lieutenant colonel having served 17 years in the Australian Army, where he was senior reliability engineer. Dr Jackson completed his Ph.D. in reliability engineering at the University of Maryland in 2011.

Dr. Jackson has authored multiple reliability and management textbooks and teaches both professional education courses and post-graduate courses. Industries he has helped range from small satellites through to military vehicles. He is a Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE) through the American Society of Quality (ASQ), a member of the Institute of Engineers, Australia (MIEAust) and a Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng).

Dr. Jackson's contact information:

chris.jackson@acuitas.com

https://www.acuitas.com

Mike Buetow speaks with Wally Rhines, ESD Alliance spokesperson, and Merlyn Bruncken, market intelligence director with Siemens Digital Industries, about the record quarter, booming employment in the sector, and why the recovery in Japan be lagging the rest of the world.

Piwowar's career interests range from AI product development, decision science and entrepreneurship. 

John Watson is customer success manager at Altium, with more than 20 years' experience as a senior PCB designer. Watson also teaches classes on printed circuit design at Palomar Community College in San Marcos, CA.

We discuss the Printed Circuit Board Design and Advanced Printed Circuit Board Design curricula, other related courses offered at Palomar, and why he emphasizes hand routing over autorouting.

Palomar's website is palomar.edu.

Watson may be reached at jwatson@palomar.edu or 619-886-8860.

Watson will also participate on the Next-Generation Engineers panel at PCB West this year. The conference takes place Sept. 19-22, at the Santa Clara CA Convention Center. The panel takes place on Sept. 20, same day as the exhibition, and is free to attend; register at pcbwest.com.

He is joined by Merlyn Brunken, director of marketing strategic planning at Siemens Digital Industries Software to provide the quarterly report, which showed gains across a number of sectors and geographies.

Matthias Wagner, CEO and cofounder, and Kerry Chayka, product expert, both veterans of PCB design with companies like Facebook and Apple, discuss the problems that led them to develop an all-encompassing tool that includes a programmable SPICE simulator for testing circuits with real parts and environments. 

My guest today is David Schild, executive director of the PCBAA. We discuss government investment in printed circuit board manufacturing in the US, the just announced allocation for PCBs as part of the Defense Production Act, and how innovation can't stop at design.

This episode of PCB Chat is sponsored by PCB East, the Electronics Industry’s East Coast Conference and Trade Show. Coming to the Boston suburbs May 9-12, and registration is now open at pcbeast.com.

The company in February announced plans to invest $100 million over the next five years in a new 100-acre factory in Tamil Nadu. That plant will add PCB fabrication capability, rounding out the firm's vertical integration strategy.

Vivek Bansal, co-founder and president of engineering, discusses the company's plans and future expansion in India and elsewhere with PCB Chat host Mike Buetow.

This episode of PCB Chat is sponsored by PCB East, the Electronics Industry’s East Coast Conference and Trade Show. Coming to the Boston suburbs May 9-12, and registration is now open at pcbeast.com.

Metallic Resources’ slogan is “not your typical solder,” and one big reason for that is the high purity solder it supplies. This is credited to the company’s electrolytic refining process.

David Bao, Ph,D., director of New Product Development, Erik Ozan, senior manager and head of the recycling division, and Jeff Giles sales manager of Metallic Resources talk about that refining, reclaiming, the pros and cons of risk aversion, and why some companies are wasting money stuck in higher cost solder assembly processes with PCB Chat host Mike Buetow.

This episode of PCB Chat is sponsored by PCB East, the Electronics Industry’s East Coast Conference and Trade Show. Coming to the Boston suburbs May 9-12, and registration is now open at pcbeast.com.

Steve Robinson, president and CEO of APCT, discusses the acquisition, the pending integration, and APCT's new responsibilities as one of the largest North American PCB fabricators with Mike Buetow. 

This episode of PCB Chat is sponsored by PCB East, the Electronics Industry’s East Coast Conference and Trade Show. Coming to the Boston suburbs May 9-12, and registration is now open at pcbeast.com.

This podcast is brought to you by PCB East, the original conference for the #electronics #design, #manufacturing and #assembly industry on the East Coast. Coming to Boxborough, MA, on May 9-12, with the one-day exhibition and a day's worth of free technical sessions on May 10. Visit pcbeast.com for details.

David Raby is president of Madison Alabama-based STI Electronics, a contract manufacturer for the EMS industry. David worked at the family business since he was a child and eventually took over the family business when his father (and company founder) Jim Raby retired.

The electronics industry moves at the speed of light and any business within the EMS industry must learn to stay ahead of technology and trends. David shares some of his experiences in taking over the family business and some of the challenges his business (and many other businesses) face on a near daily basis.

This podcast is brought to you by PCB East, the original conference for the #electronics #design, #manufacturing and #assembly industry on the East Coast. Coming to Boxborough, MA, on May 9-12, with the one-day exhibition and a day's worth of free technical sessions on May 10. Visit pcbeast.com for details.

Our guests are Wally Rhines, who spent more than 45 years in in semiconductor and PCB design as an executive with Mentor Graphics and before that, TI; and Merlyn Brunken, whose is the longtime market intelligence director with Siemens Digital Industries, formerly Mentor.

This podcast is brought to you by PCB East, the original conference for the #electronics #design, #manufacturing and #assembly industry on the East Coast. Coming to Boxborough, MA, on May 9-12, with the one-day exhibition and a day's worth of free technical sessions on May 10. Visit pcbeast.com for details.

Kelly gives updates on HR 7677, the bill introduced last year in support of the US PCB industry, and weighs the impact of the Chips Act on similar legislation for circuit boards. 

Almeras began his career in process engineering for a small electronics manufacturer in the late 1990s. There he became responsible for the sites ESD compliance verification. His next career move took him to a high-volume manufacturer where he added ESD Coordinator to his process duties. He eventually made the jump into the Military/Aerospace side of electronics manufacturing (with Raytheon) in 2010 where he has remained working in process, capital installations, continuous improvement, and ESD.

In 2009, he completed the ESD Certified Program Manager from the ESDA. He serves as a member on several ESD Association standards committees including S20.20, TR53, Process Assessment, High Reliability, Electrostatic Attraction among others. In 2022 he took over the working group chair for Soldering/Desoldering Hand Tools.

Almeras was elected to the ESD Association Board of Directors and continues to be active with the ESD Symposium each year. In 2018 he presented his technical paper “An ESD Case Study of Defect Analysis in High Speed Electronics Manufacturing” at the symposium. Almeras has a BS in mechanical engineering from Purdue University and an MS in industrial engineering from Oklahoma State University. He is an ESD Certified Program Manager (ESDA).

During this episode, host Mike Konrad references the following:

• Reliability Matters Episode 104: A Conversation about ESD Flooring with Thomas Ricciardelli
• 4 Easy Ways to BLOW UP Your Test Gear Daniel Bogdanoff - Keysighthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDvue5whx0s

We were exposed to the concept of liquid metal in the 1991 film "Terminator 2." Will science fiction become reality? Mike Konrad's guest is Dr. Michael Dickey. Michael is currently the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Professor in the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at NC State University.  Michael Dickey received a bachelor's in chemical engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. from the University of Texas. From 2006-2008 he was a post-doctoral fellow in the lab of Professor George Whitesides at Harvard University. Michael completed a sabbatical at Microsoft in 2016. Michael’s research interests include soft matter (liquid metals, gels and polymers) for soft and stretchable devices (electronics, energy harvesters, textiles, and soft robotics), and hopefully, for the sake of humanity, not liquid metal T1000 villains. Dr. Michael Dickey's contact information: mddickey@ncsu.edu

David Graham is chief technology officer of 4IR.UK, a wholly owned subsidiary of Internet of Things-focused British Systems. 4IR.UK specializes in creating monitoring, control and automation solutions, often based on the MultiPlug Edge Computing Platform, for manufacturing environments. They also provide consultancy and development for other Industry 4.0 platforms.

Host Mike Konrad was intrigued by a webinar presented by David titled “A Decade of Industry 4.0 – What it Wasn’t, What it Was,” and they speak about his thoughts, experiences, and opinions of Industry 4.0.

Allspice CEO Valentina Ratner and CTO Kyle Dumont have extensive experience in electronics hardware and software, both with startups and some of the largest companies in the industry.

They share the origins of the company, and how their personal experience drove development of the AllSpice platform, which seeks to wean the supply chain off PDFs as a product development tool.

Madan Jagernauth, marketing director and a project facilitator, discusses the latest programs, including ones on Pb-free manufacturing, with PCB Chat's Mike Buetow.

Our industry relies on a vast network of manufacturers throughout the world to build even the simplest electronic assembly. Intellectual property security, cybersecurity, national security, are all hot topics today. No one wants their hard-earned intellectual property stolen. This is most true within the US military establishment. There are, at present, numerous policies, procedures, and regulations designed to protect various parts of our supply chain from unscrupulous people and companies. Today, companies are concerned about “controlled unclassified information” (CUI) and “controlled technical information” (CTI).

That brings us to IPC-1791. What is IPC-1791? 

Randy Cherry, Mike Konrad's guest on this episode, explains. 

Randy Cherry has over 30 years' experience in engineering and is a certified SMT process engineer and an IPC auditor.  He is director of Validation Services at IPC. Validation Services is a series of certification programs that qualify products and processes to the IPC industry standards.

Michael McHale is CEO of Production Systems Automation, otherwise known as PSA. He graduated from Drexel University with a BS degree in mechanical engineering.

PSA is a privately owned engineering and custom manufacturing firm founded in 1985, with three locations in Pennsylvania. They are experienced as a turnkey systems integrator, providing solutions for capital projects including, but not limited to; flexible robotic solutions, custom automated machinery, drives and controls & custom PLC projects. They also offer a line of standard products developed for industry specific customers. They are a robotic systems integrator at heart, representing leading global robotic OEMs.

He joins Mike Konrad on Reliability Matters.

They call these supercooled molten metal products, and they have direct application to electronics soldering.

Dr. Ian Tevis, SAFI-Tech’s president and co-founder, and Dr. Andy Mackie of Indium Corporation, discuss this supercooling platform and what’s next toward bringing it to market with PCEA president Mike Buetow.

He speaks with PCEA president Mike Buetow about automation in design, from autorouting to integrating component data in a timely fashion, to reduce design time.

Let’s face it, most assemblers can’t justify a multi-million-dollar production line for low-volume production. One solution may be to outsource the production to a contract manufacturer but there are specific circumstances which may prevent that. In today’s episode, we’ll review some of the equipment options for low-volume SMT production and we’ll see if the barrier to entry for in-house assembly is lower than one might think. Mike's guest today is Ed Stone.

Ed is a sales manager at Manncorp, a provider of SMT assembly equipment for the EMS industry. Manncorp was founded 55 years ago back in 1967. Just imagine how much our industry has changed over the past 55 years!

Contract manufacturers come in all shapes, sizes and capabilities. Should I seek out a Tier 1 manufacturer? How about Tier 2, 3, 4? What does tier stand for anyway? should I have my assemblies built overseas or in-country? What about issues such as ITAR? Who will be providing the components? What if I need more than just boards assembled such as design, testing and box build?

To answer these and so many more questions Mike Konrad turns to his friend and colleague David Raby. David is the President of STI electronics, founded in 1982 by David's father the late Jim Raby. Those of you who have been around the electronics industry for some time will know Jim Raby for his work with the US Navy in establishing military standards for electronics manufacturing and the development of the NASA and Department of Defense Soldering Schools.

Over the past 40 years, STI Electronics has expanded its focus from consulting and technical seminars to providing training, laboratory analysis, advanced research and development, microelectronics assembly, prototyping, and small to medium volume PCB contract assembly for the electronics industry.

David graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in Aviation Management.

My guest today is Matt Kelly, chief technologist at IPC. IPC recently published a report on the chip shortage and, perhaps most importantly, came up with a list of 28 recommendations our industry can consider to remedy this issue. Matt is focused on driving next-generation technology advancements and supply chain transformation across the electronics industry. He works within the association’s executive leadership team to identify and develop new strategic initiatives, meeting member and industry needs. He delivers influential thought leadership, research, and advocacy to industry and governments. He leads IPC’s Chief Technology Council to continually drive the electronics industry forward. His focus areas include Industry 4.0 – Factory of the Future digitization, modernization, adoption, and implementation; IPC expansion into new advanced packaging technologies including IC-substrates and OSAT manufacturing; and next generation electronic systems design methods.

When I first met Matt he was with IBM. Matt comes to IPC following a 15-year career at IBM, holding several senior technology and engineering leadership positions within IBM Systems Division. His technical contributions include 25 patents, 85 publications, and numerous industry awards.

Matt is a licensed Professional Engineer with a degree in chemical engineering from McMaster University and holds an MBA in strategic management from Sir Wilfrid Laurier University.

Mike Konrad gives a special thanks to the 117 guests he has had the privilege to learn from. Also, thank you to listeners and viewers of this podcast.

Here is a list of guests (subject matter experts in their fields) that had been on RM:

Jen Fijalkowski - Keith Bryant - Dr. David Bernard - David Kruidhof - Robert Boguski - Phil Zarrow - Jim Hall - Dr. Ron Lasky- Dr. Kunal Shah - Marco Sanchez - Colin Harper - Jesper Lykke - Greg Papandrew - Kevin Huo - Mike Adamson - Tony Lentz - Brian O'Leary - Joel Scutchfield - Bob Doetzer - Christopher Frederickson- Miles Moreau - Paul Salerno - Stan Rak - Bev Christian - Matt Kelly - Cheryl Tulkoff - Greg Caswell - Dave Trail - Dr. Martin Anselm - Tanya Martin - Greg Vance - Dr. Raiyo Aspandiar - James Kovacevic - Trevor Galbraith - Phil Stoten - Eric Miscoll - Mike Buetow - Patrick Stimpert - Chris Denney - Tim Jensen - Mark Waterman - David Leventhal - Joan Carrol-Kennedy  - Murray Percival Jr. - Todd Wittmer - Amit Dror - Melissa Hough - Norman Mier - Annaka Balch - Nadia Clement - Raaga Kannan - Tim O'Neill - Fred Dimock - Dock Brown - François Monette -Tara Dunn - Dave Hillman - Graham Naisbitt - Dr. Eric Fossum - Prakash Gango - Kalyan Nukala - Dr. Martin Anselm - Michael Ford - Dr. Sean Clancy - Dr. Bill Cardoso - David Alexander - Matthew Chalkley - Dr. Jennie Hwang  - Phil Zarrow - Bob Willis - Ray Prasad - Dr. Chris Jackson - Dr. Mike Stull - Keith Bryant - Greg Papandrew - Mark Hughes - Greg Ziraldo - Dr. John Mitchell - Jim Hall - Dr. Darren Williams - Barbara Kanegsberg - Dr. Ed Kanegsberg - Judy Warner - Greg Smith - Tony Lentz - David Heller - Eric Camden - Brook Sandy - Alun Morgan - Kay Parker - Mark Levin - Jon Rodin - Robert Boguski - Elizabeth Kidd - Manuel Schöllig- Phil Kinner - Paul Mullen - Mike Logan - Yash Sutariya - Brian D'Amico - Fred Schenkelberg - MB Allen - Michelle Ogihara - Sherry Stepp - Dr. Mike Bixenman - Doug Pauls - Dr. Craig Hillman - Sal Sparacino - Dr. Terry Price - Ravi Parthasarathy  - Umut Tosun - Wendy Casker - Paco Solis

To answer those questions and more, we are turning to Dr. Matthew Dyson, senior technology analyst at ID Tech Ex. Dr. Dyson just coauthored a white paper titled "Factory of the Future." He discusses what that looks like, explaining the key trends in industrial manufacturing -- sensors, additive manufacturing, automation and flexibility -- and the timeline for adoption with PCEA president Mike Buetow.

Brian Morrison, vice president of engineering for Vexos, a mid-tier multinational EMS with manufacturing facilities in the US, Canada, China and Vietnam and more than 900 employees worldwide, gives his take on smart manufacturing and its relationship to AI and Lean to PCEA chief content officer Chelsey Drysdale.

Naisbitt is an IEC 1906 Lord Kelvin Award Winner, IEC TC91 WG2, 3 and 10 Maintenance Leader of 4 Standards, and a British Standards Institution EPL-501 Member.

He is a specialist in surface insulation resistance testing, ionic contamination control, solderability, conformal coating materials and application systems, cleaning, inspection and test.

He recently posted a 1250-word piece titled There May Come a Time When PCB Design Requires People Management Skills. It struck a chord with more than a few designers and engineers, who shared similar anecdotes. He shares the story and some lessons learned over his three decades in electronics design.

This special 100th episode of PCB Chat is sponsored by PCB West, the leading conference and exhibition for printed circuit and design engineering. Coming Oct. 4-7 to the Santa Clara CA Convention Center. Learn more at pcbwest.com.

Mike Konrad spoke with Jen about solder paste best practices as well as some of the latest advances in solder pastes such as low temperature, low voiding, and high reliability solder pastes.

Instruction was performed by Dr. Kirsch Mackey, an electrical engineer and head of hardware training at HaSofu.

On this episode of PCB Chat, we speak with Dr. Mackey and Dr. James Lee, acting chair of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology department at RIT, about the new course, what was taught, the students’ response, and the next steps for the program.

• Keith Bryant of Keith Bryant Consultancy. Keith has more than 30 years in the electronics industry and has worked for and with x-ray equipment manufacturers.  keith@smta.org
• Dr. David Bernard of David Bernard Consultancy. David has more than 20 years of experience in the x-ray industry and has worked for and with x-ray equipment manufacturers.  dbc@bernard.abel.co.uk
• David Kruidhof, sales manager for Creative Electron, a manufacturer of x-ray equipment. dkruidhof@creativeelectron.com
• Robert Boguski, president of Datest, an analytical laboratory specializing in failure analysis. Rob is a user of x-ray equipment. rboguski@datest.com

Today’s guests are Stéphane Declée, CEO of the Dassault Systèmes ENOVIA brand, and Michael Jackson, corporate vice president of R&D at Cadence's System, Package, Board Group.

They address a range of topics related to the integration, including how this could help users working in both environments, the manufacturing elements that can now be simulated, the functionality updates, and how other partnerships with ECAD and MCAD providers will be affected. 

Coinciding with that meeting came an announcement from a pair of US legislators that they had introduced a bill to incentivize purchases of domestically produced PCBs as well as industry investments in factories, equipment, workforce training, and research and development.

The bill, known as the Supporting American Printed Circuit Boards Act of 2022, is aimed at helping to level the playing field for US-based electronics companies by incentivizing investment in capabilities and training.  

Travis Kelly, president and chief executive of Isola and chairman of the PCBAA, joins PCB Chat host Mike Buetow to discuss the new bill and the highlights of the annual meeting. 

They discuss HDP's new technology direction initiative, which focuses on projects to support enabling technologies, and share details of some of those new programs.

They also invite nonmembers to their first face-to-face meeting in two years, taking place May 18-19 in Austin, TX. Nonmembers may attend the May 18 session and the facilities tour of Novacentrix.

Our guests are Wally Rhines, who spent more than 45 years in in semiconductor and PCB design as an executive with Mentor Graphics and before that, TI; and Merlyn Brunken, whose is the longtime market intelligence director with Siemens Digital Industries, formerly Mentor.

This podcast is brought to you by PCB East, the original conference for the #electronics #design, #manufacturing and #assembly industry on the East Coast. Coming to Marlboro, MA, on April 11-13, with the one-day exhibition and a day's worth of free technical sessions on April 12. Visit pcbeast.com for details.

Marco Sanchez from SMT North America talks about thermal control of reflow ovens. marco.sanchez@smtna.com

Colin Harper of BPM talks about automatic device programming.

colin_harper@bpmmicro.com

Jesper Lykke from Viscom talks about inspection systems.

jesper.lykke@viscomusa.com

Greg Papandrew from Direct PCB talks about PCB buying and his new book "PCB Basics for Buyers": greg@boardbuying.com

Kevin Huo from EM Solutions talks about fast-turn contract assembly.

kevinh@emsolutionstech.com

And Michelle Ogihara from Seika USA talks about the advantages of joining trade associations.

michelle@seikausa.com

President Will Kendall and VP of operations, Juarez Oscar Gonzalez speak with PCB Chat host Mike Buetow on the demand behind the expansion, the local employment situation, and moving product over the US-Mexico border.

Dr. James Lee (pictured), acting chair of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology department at RIT, and Chris Banton, director of marketing at EMA Design Automation, join Mike Buetow to explain the new program.

Brian Leary and Mike Konrad discuss the future of the automobile industry and what's required for the electronics industry and the world.

The organization seeks market fairness and a level playing field on which US PCB manufacturers can compete against competitors subsidized by foreign governments.

Travis Kelly, president and chief executive of Isola, the materials developer, and chairman of the PCBAA, joins PCB Chat host Mike Buetow to discuss the new consortium's outlook and strategy.

Mike Konrad's guest will discuss what solder paste fit for use means, and how we can provide methods for determining its fit for use right on the production floor. On a completely unrelated topic, but maybe even more interesting, he also has experience in wearable electronics in temporary tattoos. You bet we ask him about that!

Johnny Vanderford, the director of MERIT and an assistant professor of MEMS at LCCC, and Courtney Tenhover, program developer, Engineering, Business, and Information Technologies, join Mike Buetow to discuss how industry companies shape the program curriculum and its potential for adoption by other colleges.

HDP  (hdpusergroup.org) is a consortium of more than 50 global companies that conceives and runs projects on electronics packaging and reliability. It has completed more than 50 such projects over the course of its 25 years. 

Mike Konrad talks to Larry about his “up and down” journey and learn what knocked him down and, more importantly, what his inspiration and techniques were to get back up again.

We’ve discussed how to profile a board on this show. Today, we’re going to talk about profiling an oven and a wave soldering machine, and how, when done correctly, may reduce the number of times one has to attach thermocouples to a circuit board and run it through an oven or wave soldering machine.

He speaks with Mike Buetow on markets and manufacturing in Central America, and why Colombia is a nearshore possibility for US OEMs and EMS companies looking for low-cost partners.

Paul works with customers in both Europe and Asia with customers in automotive, computing, communications and consumer electronic markets. Paul and Mike Konrad discuss soldering materials including "high reliability" solder paste, low and ultra-low solder pastes, and design-for-use solder paste selection processes.

Paul may be reached here:

Paul Salerno

Portfolio Manager, SMT Assembly Solutions

Paul.Salerno@MacDermidAlpha.com

My guests Cheryl Tulkoff and Greg Caswell discuss their new book "Design for Excellence in Electronics Manufacturing" (published by Wiley and available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Wiley).

An authoritative guide to optimizing design for manufacturability and reliability from a team of experts Design for Excellence in Electronics Manufacturing is a comprehensive, state-of-the-art book that covers design and reliability of electronics. The authors—noted experts on the topic—explain how using the DfX concepts of design for reliability, design for manufacturability, design for environment, design for testability, and more, reduce research and development costs and decrease time to market and allow companies to confidently issue warranty coverage. By employing the concepts outlined in Design for Excellence in Electronics Manufacturing, engineers and managers can increase customer satisfaction, market share, and long-term profits. In addition, the authors describe the best practices regarding product design and show how the practices can be adapted for different manufacturing processes, suppliers, use environments, and reliability expectations. This important book contains a comprehensive review of the design and reliability of electronics covers a range of topics: establishing a reliability program, design for the use environment, design for manufacturability, and more. Includes technical information on electronic packaging, discrete components, and assembly processes shows how aspects of electronics can fail under different environmental stresses. Written for reliability engineers, electronics engineers, design engineers, component engineers, and others, Design for Excellence in Electronics Manufacturing is a comprehensive book that reveals how to get product design right the first time.

Cheryl Tulkoff may be reached here:

cheryl.tulkoff@ni.com

Greg Caswell may be reached here:

greg.caswell@ansys.com

Dave may be reached at dtrail@archsys.io 808-868-8298

The international research firm IDTechEx released in early October a new study called “Electrically Conductive Adhesives 2022-2032: Technologies, Markets, and Forecasts.” Matthew Dyson, Ph.D., a senior technology analyst at IDTechEx specializing in printed, organic and flexible electronics, spoke with Mike Buetow about the study’s findings and the future of ECAs, including in-mold and flexible electronics and their potential applications.

Mike Konrad spoke with Christine about the her journey operating a business startup, why she choose to start a company, her vision, and strategies for growth.

Christine may be contacted here:

cdavies@poligage.com

https://www.poligage.com

“Results are important. How do I get my results?," he states. "With the use of the Toyota Production System’s Lean principles and my simple rule 'Don’t waste time rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic, go fix the problem.' I believe in the "LEAN-IN" processes and gain improvements through RIPs (Rapid Improvement Projects) These projects are based on a standard of identifying problems, brainstorming solutions, attempting those solutions, and adjusting from there. If we are going to fail, we are going to fail fast and cheap.”

He talks with Mike Buetow about how the new concept completely reimagines the entire product development workflow, and hints at how augmented reality might impact the future of electronics manufacturing.

Trace's website is trace.so.

This podcast is brought to you by Turnkey PRO from Sierra Circuits. What if you could source your components, upload your specs and receive an instant quote in less than 15 minutes? What if your designs could be fabricated, assembled and delivered to your door in five days with a guarantee of zero defects? Then try Turnkey PRO by Sierra Circuits for your next design, and use promo code PCBCHAT to receive $200 off your next order.

It can be said, Terry marches at the front of the band, using his unique experience and cleanliness testing methods, many of which have made their way to internationally recognized standards. Terry has been quoted saying “Everything is fixable, you just have to understand what’s causing problem.” Today, we’ll attempt to understand Terry Munson as he joins Mike Konrad on this episode of the Concept to Creation Podcast.

Terry's Contact Info:

Terry Munson

Foresite, Inc.

1982 S. Elizabeth Street

Kokomo, IN 46902

USA

1-765-457-8095

www.foresiteinc.com

terrym@foresiteinc.com

• Solder paste selection best practices
• Low temperature solder
• Common mistakes made when using solder paste
• Solder paste jetting / micro-dispensing
• And much more

Tim Jensen may be reached here:

tjensen@indium.com

He worked at the robotics startup Synapticon in Stuttgart, Germany, as a mechanical engineer and eventually project manager. There, he recognized inefficiencies in the ways data are shared and managed in hardware development, and conceived a platform to accelerate the rate of innovation by streamlining the procurement process.

His startup is called Volthub, and upon graduating from MIT in June, he has relocated to San Francisco to further develop the company. He can be reached at vbedat@volthub.io.

This podcast is brought to you by Turnkey PRO from Sierra Circuits. What if you could source your components, upload your specs and receive an instant quote in less than 15 minutes? What if your designs could be fabricated, assembled and delivered to your door in five days with a guarantee of zero defects? Then try Turnkey PRO by Sierra Circuits for your next design, and use promo code PCBCHAT to receive $200 off your next order.

This podcast is brought to you by Turnkey PRO from Sierra Circuits. What if you could source your components, upload your specs and receive an instant quote in less than 15 minutes? What if your designs could be fabricated, assembled and delivered to your door in five days with a guarantee of zero defects? Then try Turnkey PRO by Sierra Circuits for your next design, and use promo code PCBCHAT to receive $200 off your next order.

This podcast is brought to you by Turnkey PRO from Sierra Circuits. What if you could source your components, upload your specs and receive an instant quote in less than 15 minutes? What if your designs could be fabricated, assembled and delivered to your door in five days with a guarantee of zero defects? Then try Turnkey PRO by Sierra Circuits for your next design, and use promo code PCBCHAT to receive $200 off your next order.

This podcast is brought to you by Turnkey PRO from Sierra Circuits. What if you could source your components, upload your specs and receive an instant quote in less than 15 minutes? What if your designs could be fabricated, assembled and delivered to your door in five days with a guarantee of zero defects? Then try Turnkey PRO by Sierra Circuits for your next design, and use promo code PCBCHAT to receive $200 off your next order.

To read the press announcement about the Q1 data, click here.

This podcast is brought to you by Turnkey PRO from Sierra Circuits. What if you could source your components, upload your specs and receive an instant quote in less than 15 minutes? What if your designs could be fabricated, assembled and delivered to your door in five days with a guarantee of zero defects? Then try Turnkey PRO by Sierra Circuits for your next design, and use promo code PCBCHAT to receive $200 off your next order.

This podcast is brought to you by Turnkey PRO from Sierra Circuits. What if you could source your components, upload your specs and receive an instant quote in less than 15 minutes? What if your designs could be fabricated, assembled and delivered to your door in five days with a guarantee of zero defects? Then try Turnkey PRO by Sierra Circuits for your next design, and use promo code PCBCHAT to receive $200 off your next order.

We’re all experienced with inkjet printers. Ink jet nozzles travel from left to right back and forth over a sheet of paper. When the printing process has been completed, out shoots a sheet of paper with text or images deposited on the paper’s surface. Now, imagine a different type of printer. Instead of four-color ink cartridges there are two basic inks, one a dielectric ink and the other a silver-based conductive ink. The print heads travel back and forth and, when the printing process is finished, out pops a multilayer circuit board complete with vias, through-holes, ground planes, and conductive traces, and markings, ready for component placement and reflow. Need another board, just press print. This technology gives new meaning to "printed circuit board."

This podcast is brought to you by Turnkey PRO from Sierra Circuits. What if you could source your components, upload your specs and receive an instant quote in less than 15 minutes? What if your designs could be fabricated, assembled and delivered to your door in five days with a guarantee of zero defects? Then try Turnkey PRO by Sierra Circuits for your next design, and use promo code PCBCHAT to receive $200 off your next order.

This podcast is brought to you by Turnkey PRO from Sierra Circuits. What if you could source your components, upload your specs and receive an instant quote in less than 15 minutes? What if your designs could be fabricated, assembled and delivered to your door in five days with a guarantee of zero defects? Then try Turnkey PRO by Sierra Circuits for your next design, and use promo code PCBCHAT to receive $200 off your next order.

Welcome to episode number 5 of the Concept to Creation Podcast. I’m so glad you’re here. Today, my guests are Robert Boguski and Regina Lathrop. They are the husband-wife team behind Datest, a Fremont California based company which provides advanced, integrated PCBA testing and inspection services, serving the CM and EMS industries as well as the OEM community since 1984. Robert and Regina purchased Datest in 2005 with business partners then bought out those partners in 2009. I think in many ways, purchasing a company is perhaps even more challenging than starting one from scratch. Rob and Regina describe their early venture as a rehabilitation project.

This podcast is brought to you by Turnkey PRO from Sierra Circuits. What if you could source your components, upload your specs and receive an instant quote in less than 15 minutes? What if your designs could be fabricated, assembled and delivered to your door in five days with a guarantee of zero defects? Then try Turnkey PRO by Sierra Circuits for your next design, and use promo code PCBCHAT to receive $200 off your next order.

This podcast is brought to you by Turnkey PRO from Sierra Circuits. What if you could source your components, upload your specs and receive an instant quote in less than 15 minutes? What if your designs could be fabricated, assembled and delivered to your door in five days with a guarantee of zero defects? Then try Turnkey PRO by Sierra Circuits for your next design, and use promo code PCBCHAT to receive $200 off your next order.

This episode gets us into the nitty gritty details of how to implement a proper circuit board cleaning process. In the first part of this conversation (RM 68) we delve into the history of board cleaning, the electronics the industry's transition to primarily using no-clean flux, and why more and more companies are reintroducing board cleaning back into their assembly process.

This podcast is brought to you by Turnkey PRO from Sierra Circuits. What if you could source your components, upload your specs and receive an instant quote in less than 15 minutes? What if your designs could be fabricated, assembled and delivered to your door in five days with a guarantee of zero defects? Then try Turnkey PRO by Sierra Circuits for your next design, and use promo code PCBCHAT to receive $200 off your next order.

This podcast is brought to you by Turnkey PRO from Sierra Circuits. What if you could source your components, upload your specs and receive an instant quote in less than 15 minutes? What if your designs could be fabricated, assembled and delivered to your door in five days with a guarantee of zero defects? Then try Turnkey PRO by Sierra Circuits for your next design, and use promo code PCBCHAT to receive $200 off your next order.

This podcast is brought to you by Turnkey PRO from Sierra Circuits. What if you could source your components, upload your specs and receive an instant quote in less than 15 minutes? What if your designs could be fabricated, assembled and delivered to your door in five days with a guarantee of zero defects? Then try Turnkey PRO by Sierra Circuits for your next design, and use promo code PCBCHAT to receive $200 off your next order.

In this episode we are joined by Mike Konrad to chat about board cleaning best practices. Mike founded  Aqueous Technologies in 1992 in response to the Montreal Protocol and the resulting international treaty banning most popular cleaning/defluxing solvents. Their board cleaning equipment assists manufacturers with increasing product reliability while saving both water and energy, reducing the industry's environmental impact.

In addition to being the President of Aqueous Technologies, he is also a fellow podcaster and runs the Reliability Matters Podcast, which discusses reliability of circuit assemblies, reliability "best practices" and success stories.

In the first part of this conversation we delve into the history of board cleaning, the electronics the industry's transition to primarily using no-clean flux, and why more and more companies are reintroducing board cleaning back into their assembly process.

If you want to listen to us get into the nitty-gritty details of how to implement a proper circuit board cleaning process, make sure to listen to the second half of this episode.

Chris Denney may be reached at cdenney@worthingtonassembly.com

Melissa Hough may be reached at melissa@circuithub.com

Mike may be reached at:

mscimeca@fctassembly.com

He has worked through BEST for several electronics industry leaders and created tailored courses for their equipment. This also includes providing training to technicians and engineers in surface mount and advanced surface mount technology. The knowledge Norm has brought to these companies has been invaluable to their process improvement efforts. His skill has also been a major factor in keeping BEST training at the forefront in the electronics-training field.

Norman may be contacted at nmier@solder.net.

Video version: https://youtu.be/VpFBJtiRl1U

Allison and Chad Budvarson are a husband and wife team that founded and operates Out of the Box Manufacturing, a Renton Washington-based contract manufacturer. They share how they founded their company, their challenges, successes, and what motivates them. They also provide sage advice for navigating both business and home life.

Allison Budvarson: allison@obmfg.com

Chad Budvarson: chad@obmfg.com

Bernard's three-hour webinar, Getting the Best from Your X-Ray Inspection System, takes place May 20. For information, click here: pcb2day.com/webinars.

On this podcast, Mike will interview industry founders to talk about the following topics: 

• Concept 
• Creation 
• Execution 
• Growth 
• Challenges 
• Successes / Failures 
• Motivating Insights

The first episode features Dr. Bill Cardoso of Creative Electron. Bill earned his AA degree at the age of 13. He went on to earn his BS, MS, and Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering as well as an MBA in economics, strategic management and entrepreneurship. In 2008, he founded Creative Electron, a manufacturer of x-ray equipment. Bill discusses his journey of concept to creation including his success, failures, and challenges along the way.

Future episodes will air on the first and second Tuesday of each month.

The second episode (airing on May 4) features an interview with the husband and wife team behind Out of the Box Manufacturing, a contract assembler in Renton, WA. They discuss, among other things the challenges of starting a new business one month after they were married in 2008 as well as their strategies for successful growth.

The third episode (airing on May 18) features a conversation with FTC Assemblies (soldering materials manufacturer) founder Mike Scimeca.

The fourth episode features an interview with Kyzen’s Dr. Mike Bixenman and Tom Forsythe.

Our guests are Tim O’Neill from AIM Solder and Fred Dimock of BTU. Tim will discuss voiding mitigation from a materials standpoint while Fred will bring cover equipment and profiling strategies.

Tim O'Neill is technical marketing manager for AIM Solder. Operating out of AIM’s US headquarters, Tim is responsible for developing and optimizing product and technical information, collaborating with complementary suppliers and equipment manufacturers and ensuring AIM's products exceed expectations and meet market requirements.

Tim is also a technical writer and presenter for industry trade publications and events. He has coauthored several papers on PCB assembly subjects. Tim is also an IPC-A-610 Certified IPC Specialist.

Fred Dimock is manager of process technology at BTU International and recently started a consulting business, FCD-Global services. Fred holds an associate degree in mechanical design from Wentworth in Boston and a bachelor's degree in ceramic engineering from the State University of New York. He has authored numerous articles on lead-free solder, process control, and the operation of continuous furnaces. His papers have been published in English, Chinese, and German.

He has taught numerous SMTA solder reflow classes and participated in the 5-45 Subcommittee for the development of IPC-7801 Reflow Oven Process Control Standard. Additionally, he wrote the chapter on solder reflow for the Handbook of Electronic Assembly and A Guide to SMTA Certification by Dr. Ron Lasky and Jim Hall.

He received Distinguished Speaker status at SMTA Guadalajara Mexico and is a key presenter for the SMTA Jump Start program for new engineers.

Timothy O'Neill is the Technical Marketing Manager for AIM Solder. Operating out of AIM’s U.S. Headquarters, Tim is responsible for developing and optimizing product and technical information, collaborating with complimentary suppliers and equipment manufacturers and ensuring AIM's products exceed expectations and meet market requirements.

Tim is also a technical writer and presenter for industry trade publications and events. He has co-authored several papers on PCB assembly subjects.

Tim is also an IPC-A-610 Certified IPC Specialist.

Fred Dimock is the Manager of Process Technology at BTU International and recently started a consulting business, FCD-Global services.

Fred holds an Associate Degree in Mechanical Design from Wentworth in Boston and a Bachelors Degree in Ceramic Engineering from the State University of New York.

Fred has authored numerous articles on lead free solder, process control, and the operation of continuous furnaces. His papers have been published in English, Chinese, and German.

He has taught numerous SMTA solder reflow classes and participated in the 5-45 Subcommittee for the development of IPC-7801 Reflow Oven Process Control Standard.

Additionally, he wrote the chapter on solder reflow for the Handbook of Electronic Assembly and A Guide to SMTA Certification by Dr Lasky and Jim Hall.

He received Distinguished Speaker status at SMTA Guadalajara Mexico and is a key presenter for the SMTA Jump Start program for new engineers.

Tim O’Neill may be contacted here:

toneill@aimsolder.com

Fred Dimock may be contacted here:

fdimock@btu.com

Tim is also a technical writer and presenter for industry trade publications and events. He has coauthored several papers on PCB assembly subjects. Tim is also an IPC-A-610 Certified IPC Specialist. Fred Dimock is manager of process technology at BTU International and recently started a consulting business, FCD-Global services. Fred holds an associate degree in mechanical design from Wentworth in Boston and a bachelor's degree in ceramic engineering from the State University of New York. He has authored numerous articles on lead-free solder, process control, and the operation of continuous furnaces. His papers have been published in English, Chinese, and German. He has taught numerous SMTA solder reflow classes and participated in the 5-45 Subcommittee for the development of IPC-7801 Reflow Oven Process Control Standard. Additionally, he wrote the chapter on solder reflow for the Handbook of Electronic Assembly and A Guide to SMTA Certification by Dr. Ron Lasky and Jim Hall. He received Distinguished Speaker status at SMTA Guadalajara Mexico and is a key presenter for the SMTA Jump Start program for new engineers.

As a volunteer, he has been involved with ASQ, IEEE, IPC, and SMTA. He was the keynote speaker at the SMTA Cleaning Conference and won the best paper award at the SMTA Microelectronics Conference. He has taught on the subjects of design for reliability, tin whiskers, statistics, design of experiments, and contributed to standards development.

Today’s episode is a little different than others. Dock will be sharing a very interesting presentation on the subject of reliability. If you’re listening to the audio-only version of this episode, you may want to view the video version so you can see Dock’s slide-deck. The video version of this episode, and several others are available on the Reliability Matters YouTube channel.

He discusses the mainstream (desktop) PCB CAD market, its shift to internal sales channels, its upsides, and limitations with PCB Chat host Mike Buetow.

Dave Hillman is a metallurgical engineer in the Advanced Operations Engineering Department of Collins Aerospace in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He serves as a consultant to manufacturing on material and processing problems. He served as a subject matter expert for the Lead-free Manhattan Project in 2009. He has published numerous technical papers and was presented with the 2008 SMTA International Conference on Soldering & Reliability “Best of Conference” award and was the recipient of the SMTA “Member of Technical Distinction” Award. Dave was awarded the Da Vinci medal as a Rockwell Engineer of the Year. He serves as the Chairman of the IPC JSTD-002 Solderability committee. He’s also a member of the SMTA where he serves on the SMTA Journal and Soldering & Surface Mount Technology Journal Technical Paper Review committees. He’s a member of the American Society for Metals, the Minerals, Metals & Materials Society, and IPC.

If you’re in the electronics assembly industry, you’ve probably seen Dave at numerous technical conferences, imparting wisdom with a style unique to Dave.

Dave Hillman may be reached at david.hillman@collins.com

He joins PCB Chat host Mike Buetow to discuss transient liquid phase sintering (TLPS) materials, how they compare with solder paste, conductive adhesives and TIMs, and their applications in printed circuit fabrication and assembly.

He spent the past 20 years at TTM / Viasystems, where he managed software applications and automation solutions for North America and Asia-Pacific operations.

He just launched EPIC Front-End Engineering, which provides consultation, project management, software applications and development support to the PCB manufacturers, with the objectives of driving advanced automation to achieve productivity, improved quality, reduced labor costs. He speaks about how the automation of design-to-fabrication the affects Industry 4.0 implementation with PCB Chat's Mike Buetow.

Graham has an extensive history working in the electrical and electronic manufacturing industry. Graham was the IEC 1906 Lord Kelvin Award Winner. IEC TC91 WG2, 3 and 10 Maintenance Leader of 4 Standards. He is vice chair of the IPC 5-30 Cleaning and Coating Sub-Committee overseeing 15 IPC Standards Development Committees. He has received 14 IPC Standards Awards and is a BSI British Standards Institution (EPL501) Member.

Graham is a Specialist in Insulation Resistance Testing, Ionic Contamination Control, Solderability, Conformal Coating materials and application systems, including Cleaning, Inspection and Test.

The guests may be reached here:

Tim O'Neill

AIM Solder

toneill@aimsolder.com

www.aimsolder.com

Prakash Gango

StenTech

prakash@stentech.com

www.stentech.com

Kalyan Nukala

Kalyan.Nukala@zestronusa.com

www.zestron.com

IPC-2581 is being rebranded as IPC-DPMX, which stands for Digital Product Model Exchange.

On this episode of PCB Chat, host Mike Buetow is joined by IPC-2581 Consortium chair Hemant Shah, DfM expert Dana Korf, Cisco technical leader of electrical engineering Terry Hoffman, and IPC manager of design standards Patrick Crawford. They discuss the latest revision to IPC-2581, which is set to be released in November.

Clancy is director of coating technology at HZO, where he leads a group developing thin-film conformal coatings.

Throughout his career, he has assisted hundreds of organizations with electronics manufacturing failure analysis, as well as developed functional coatings and materials for corrosion protection, charge storage, chemical sensing, light emission, and medical research.

Sean holds an Adjunct Professor appointment at the University of Utah's Materials Science and Engineering Department and has previously provided consulting services in the STEAM fields (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics).

Sean earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Southern California, his B.S. in Chemistry from the University of North Florida, and his Certificate in Project Management from the University of Delaware.

Dr. Clancy may be reached here:

sclancy@hzo.com

She speaks with Mike Buetow about the award, what attracted her to electronics manufacturing, and whether being a millennial shapes her perspective of the industry.

Chalkley was the Global Program Manager for IBM’s Supply Chain Social & Environmental Management System and the Global Tactical Lead for IBM’s Center of Excellence for Product Environmental Compliance. Matthew currently chairs the Environmental Sustainable Electronics (ESE) Technical Work Group for iNEMI.

Chalkley has a graduate diploma focused in environmental management from the University of Ulster.