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I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
April 19, 2024 | Marcy LaRont, PCB007 MagazineEstimated reading time: 4 minutes
Last week was IPC APEX EXPO 2024 in Anaheim, California. There were more than 400 exhibitors, many displaying impressive equipment, and five full days of committee meetings, personal development courses, technical presentations, and special technical sessions. For those of us still recovering, suffice it to say that it was a full week.
I had the privilege of doing over 20 Real Time With… IPC APEX EXPO 2024 video interviews and want to express gratitude to my interviewees, who were both interesting to talk to and patient with the process. Another highlight for me was talking to young engineers and other professionals at the show, some of whom took on the mantle of guest editor in our interview booth.
In case you missed the show this year or simply want to revisit some of the highlights, be sure to catch our Show & Tell 2024 issue coming soon.
For my must-read picks of the week, I’m highlighting Parker Capers, a young professional seeking employment, solid counsel from Dan Beaulieu on what your post-show plan should look like, more information and insight on “chiplets” and the need for secure data transfer standards from columnist Preeya Kuray, as well as Matt Stevenson’s design for reality wisdom. It’s a reminder to download one of our newest e-books (there are several) that you do not want to miss if you are an assembler.
It’s Only Common Sense: Here’s What To Do After IPC APEX EXPO 2024
Published April 15
Dan Beaulieu never disappoints in dispensing some valuable pearls for the business masses. In this column, he cautions us not to move on too quickly from IPC APEX EXPO upon returning home. The real work of the show is just beginning, and it all starts with following up (immediately). Of course, you are tracking the business you get that can be attributed back to the show for ROI, but Dan also reminds us to assess “true value” by accurately tracking our expenses and looking at the things that may not directly lead to a P.O. but that make our companies better. Take a moment to remind yourself of the post-show best practices and 2025 show planning we should all be doing.
Material Insight: The Importance of Standards for the Chip Packaging Industry
Published April 12
I seem to be mentioning “chips,” “chiplets,” and “packaging” a lot in my articles of late. On its face, it is PCB adjacent at best, but in reality, it informs everything we will be doing—including choosing whether to participate in next-gen technology. Preeya Kuray’s column covering her takeaways from the NIST CHIPS R&D Chiplets Technical Standards Workshop (a mouthful, as event titles go) is worth a few moments of your time. She discusses the benefits of system in package (SiP), which includes greater flexibility and faster time to market, and highlights that the most pressing issue that was covered was the need to create standards for safe data sharing.
Connect the Dots: Designing for Reality: Prioritizing Manufacturability
Published April 11
In my mind, this article is a great companion to the podcast of the same name. Matt Stevenson starts out by stating simple reality: “PCB manufacturing is the physical manifestation of a digital design, and to design manufacturable boards, it’s important to understand how they are produced.” He moves on to highlight the critical importance of automation and software to the PCB designer, choosing the right CAD tools, and anticipating the inevitable variation between the different PCB fabricators you will work with.
Seeking Employment: Meet Parker Capers
Published April 18
Having a college student son myself, I appreciate our Seeking Employment series. This week, we invite you to meet Charlie Capers. He recently graduated from DeVry with a degree in information technology and cybersecurity. An SMT legacy “kid,” having worked for his father’s company for many years prior to his graduation, Parker says he knows manufacturing and would love to take a cybersecurity position in a small- to medium-sized manufacturing company. “Every industry needs cybersecurity,” he says, and cites the human factor as every company’s weak link when it comes to falling prey to cybersecurity threats.
I-Connect007 Adds to Technical Library With Book on Factory Analytics by Cogiscan
Published April 3
Technically, this article is from the week before last, but I will use IPC APEX EXPO (for the last time) as an excuse. If you have not yet seen it, you owe it to yourself to check out our latest book, The Printed Circuit Assembler’s Guide to Factory Analytics: Unlocking Efficiency Through Data Insights. This book by Julie Cliche-Dubois is a must-read for assemblers. In his recommendation of the book, Jason Sciberras, president of Saline Lectronics, said, “I would recommend that any data-driven engineers focused on taking their manufacturing operations to the next level read this book.” In short, don’t download it if you are not interested in taking your operations to the next level.
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IPC APEX EXPO Retrospective: The Founders Look Back
05/30/2024 | Marcy LaRont, PCB007 MagazineIPC APEX EXPO 2024 will soon feel like a distant memory, and by all accounts, it was a good show with an impressive display of technical knowledge. During the show, I visited with industry icons and IPC Hall of Fame recipients Dan Feinberg and Gene Weiner, who were among the original visionaries and founders of what became APEX EXPO. These individuals took me on a funny and engaging historic journey and a glimpse into how we arrived today.
Delving Into Special Sessions at IPC APEX EXPO 2024
05/28/2024 | Happy Holden, I-Connect007Once again, we were back at IPC APEX EXPO for another show and conference, and back to gathering in the Anaheim Convention Center. With Disneyland just across the street, there were tourists everywhere. This APEX EXPO was bigger than ever, with more activities, Professional Development Courses, standards committee meetings, and the 16th Electronic Circuits World Convention. I really enjoyed walking around and seeing everything the show had to offer.
EWPTE 2024 Draws Nearly 3,000 Attendees
05/23/2024 | WHMAThis year, the cable and wire harness manufacturing industry came to “harness the future” at the Electrical Wire Processing Technology Expo (EWPTE), held May 14-16 at Baird Center in Milwaukee, Wis., and left inspired with access to new technologies, and solutions to challenging issues through training and education and a network of leading-edge companies, industry leaders and subject matter experts.
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
05/17/2024 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007 MagazineThis week, trade shows are at the top of our feed, with our coverage of the Del Mar Electronics and Manufacturing Show and IPC APEX EXPO. These two longtime events are almost polar opposites in size and scope, but Del Mar seems to be expanding from its roots as a “neighborhood gathering” with its move into the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The Del Mar show always has a good “buzz factor,” which is something you can’t buy.
IPC APEX EXPO: Some Thoughts About Growth
05/16/2024 | Dan Feinberg, I-Connect007After two and a half days of wandering the aisles at IPC APEX EXPO 2024, for the first time, I almost felt like I was exploring CES. There were so many booths and exhibits that I could describe, but I’d like to focus on the growth and huge value of this event, which has expanded well beyond just the growing and impressive exhibit show floor.