Advancing Sustainable and Circular Electronics

Date
- (1:00 - 5:30am CDT)

Joint workshop co-hosted by the Global Electronics Association and the International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre (ISC3)
Tangla Hotel in Brussels, Belgium
24 April 2026
8:00 -12:30 CEST

Join us for a free, half-day workshop to collaborate with electronics industry stakeholders to identify innovations that address pressing sustainability challenges and advance sustainable, circular electronics.

Attendees will share their expertise during facilitated information exchange on topics related to design, types and uses of materials, and sourcing and recovery of materials for electronics.

We will discuss opportunities related to these important drivers: 

•    Current trends in technological solutions
•    Policies and regulations
•    Innovation and R&D

Following the workshop, ISC3 and the Global Electronics Association will work together to address these opportunities by fostering pre-competitive collaboration across the electronics supply chain – from large, established companies to fast-growing startups. Our goal is to turn these discussions into practical, long-term solutions.

This workshop welcomes varied expertise from across the electronics industry, including researchers, designers, environmental and worker health practitioners, and policy analysts and advisors.

The fine print: This free, half-day workshop takes place alongside the “Chemicals Management for Electronics” regulatory summit on 23 April 2026 in Brussels. Co-locating the workshop with the regulatory summit boosts overall impact and networking opportunities for attendees. More information about the regulatory summit is available.
 

Region

Global Electronics Association and Altium Launch First Joint PCB Design Certifications

New credentials address electronics talent shortages and expand career pathways for PCB designers

The Global Electronics Association, the leading voice for the electronics industry, has partnered with Altium LLC, a global leader in electronics design software and solutions, to launch two new industry-recognized certification programs for printed circuit board (PCB) design: Altium Designer Associate Certification and Altium Designer Expert Certification. The collaboration marks a significant milestone for the Association by introducing its first certification for a third-party software product.

Developed collaboratively, the new certifications enable PCB designers to validate computer-aided design (CAD) skills, demonstrate proficiency with Altium Designer®, and advance their careers in a rapidly growing and increasingly complex field.

“For more than five decades, the Global Electronics Association has been a leader in education and workforce advancement across the electronics industry,” said John W. Mitchell, president and CEO of the Global Electronics Association. “Each year, more than 140,000 credentials are earned through our programs—more than any other organization in the field. This partnership with Altium strengthens that legacy by equipping designers with meaningful credentials that reflect real-world expertise, keep pace with rapid innovation, and support the next generation of electronics.”

“Partnering with the Global Electronics Association brings industry recognition and structure to PCB design education,” said Rea Callender, vice president of education at Altium. “These certifications give designers a clear way to demonstrate their skills with Altium Designer and help employers identify talent ready to innovate and deliver in today’s fast-paced electronics industry. Together, we’re building an even stronger bridge between education, professional certification, and industry need.”

The Altium Designer Associate and Expert Certifications provide a clear progression for designers to demonstrate expertise with one of the electronics industry’s most widely used design platforms, which unifies schematic capture, PCB layout, simulation, documentation, and 3D design in a single environment. Certifications are issued on a two-year cycle. Each credential is earned through a 75-question written exam based on the Altium Designer Knowledge Base and industry best practices for PCB design.

These new certifications represent the Global Electronics Association’s fourth major category of workforce development offerings, expanding its comprehensive education portfolio. The Association’s programs now include:

●    Registered apprenticeships that create pathways into electronics careers.
●    IPC standards-based certifications that set the global benchmark for quality and consistency.
●    Role-based training programs that validate and confirm a worker’s ability to perform critical industry jobs functions.
●    Third-party software certifications, beginning with Altium Designer®, that confirm proficiency with the tools most widely used by electronics designers.

Together, these programs provide a complete, career-spanning framework to develop, validate, and advance electronics talent. To learn more about electronics industry education and workforce programs, visit www.electronics.org.
 

November PCB Data Signals Sustained Growth as Book-to-Bill Remains in Expansion

The Global Electronics Association releases PCB industry results for November 2025

The Global Electronics Association announced today the November 2025 findings from its North American Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Statistical Program. The book-to-bill ratio stands at 1.12.

Total North American PCB shipments in November 2025 were up 21.1% compared to the same month last year. Compared to the preceding month, November shipments were down -4.0%. November's year-to-date (YTD) shipments increased by 12.6% year-over-year (YOY).

PCB bookings in November were up 23.3% compared to the same month last year. November bookings were down 0.7% compared to the preceding month. November’s YTD bookings increased 16.6% compared to the same period last year.

“The November data point to a market that remains fundamentally healthy, even as monthly activity moderated following October’s surge,” said Dr. Shawn DuBravac, chief economist of the Global Electronics Association. “Shipments pulled back modestly on a month-over-month basis, but bookings held firm, keeping the book-to-bill ratio comfortably above parity. That balance suggests demand remains intact as the industry continues to transition into a more normalized operating rhythm.”

North American PCB activity in November reflects a market that is cooling slightly from recent peaks but remains on solid footing. Bookings continued to outpace shipments, supporting near-term demand visibility, while the three-month moving averages show bookings growing meaningfully faster than shipments. Year-to-date performance reinforces this picture, with bookings maintaining a clear lead over shipments. Together, these trends indicate a market that is shifting from rapid recovery toward steadier, more sustainable growth, where future momentum will depend on consistent new order flow rather than short-term volatility in monthly shipments.

November 2025 PCB book to bill ratio chart

Detailed Data Available

Companies that participate in the Global Electronics Association’s North American PCB Statistical Program have access to detailed findings on rigid PCB and flexible circuit sales and orders, including separate rigid and flex book-to-bill ratios, growth trends by product types and company size tiers, demand for prototypes, sales growth to military and medical markets, and other timely data.

Interpreting the Data

The book-to-bill ratios are calculated by dividing the value of orders booked over the past three months by the value of sales billed during the same period from companies in the Global Electronics Association’s survey sample. A ratio of more than 1.00 suggests that current demand is ahead of supply, which is a positive indicator for sales growth over the next three to 12 months. A ratio of less than 1.00 indicates the reverse.

Year-on-year and year-to-date growth rates provide the most meaningful view of industry growth. Month-to-month comparisons should be made with caution as they reflect seasonal effects and short-term volatility. Because bookings tend to be more volatile than shipments, changes in the book-to-bill ratios from month to month might not be significant unless a trend of more than three consecutive months is apparent. It is also important to consider changes in both bookings and shipments to understand what is driving changes in the book-to-bill ratio.

The Global Electronics Association’s monthly PCB industry statistics are based on data provided by a representative sample of both rigid PCB and flexible circuit manufacturers selling in the USA and Canada. The Association publishes the PCB book-to-bill ratio by the end of each month.
 

November EMS Data Shows Short-Term Pullback but Book-to-Bill Signals Underlying Stability

The Global Electronics Association releases EMS industry results for November 2025

The Global Electronics Association announced today the November 2025 findings from its North American Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) Statistical Program. The book-to-bill ratio stands at 1.17.

Total North American EMS shipments in November 2025 were down 0.7% compared to the same month last year. Compared to the preceding month, November shipments were down 3.6%. November’s year-to-date (YTD) shipments decreased by 0.9% year-over-year (YOY).

EMS bookings in November decreased 4.1% year-over-year and decreased 9.7% from the previous month. November’s YTD bookings increased by 0.5% compared to the same period last year.
“November’s EMS results reflect a pause in momentum rather than a reversal in trend,” said Dr. Shawn DuBravac, Global Electronics Association’s chief economist. “Both shipments and bookings eased from October levels, suggesting a period of digestion following earlier demand improvement. Even so, the industry remains near balance, with the book-to-bill ratio still above parity and year-to-date bookings holding modestly positive.”

November data from the North American EMS industry points to a short-term cooling following October’s stabilization. Bookings weakened more sharply than shipments during the month, narrowing the gap between demand and output and tempering near-term growth expectations. The three-month moving average for bookings turned negative, signaling softer order flow as customers adjust inventories and reassess near-term demand.

Looking across the full year, however, the picture remains mixed rather than deteriorating. Shipments are down 0.9% year-to-date, while bookings are still up 0.5%, indicating that demand continues to slightly outpace output. This pattern suggests the industry is moving cautiously into year-end, balancing inventory normalization with early signs of underlying demand resilience.

November 2025 EMS book to bill chart

Detailed Data Available
Companies that participate in the Global Electronics Association’s North American EMS Statistical Program have access to detailed findings on EMS sales growth by type of production and company size tier, order growth and backlogs by company size tier, vertical market growth, the EMS book-to-bill ratio, 3-month and 12-month sales outlooks, and other timely data.

Interpreting the Data
The book-to-bill ratios are calculated by dividing the value of orders booked over the past three months by the value of sales billed during the same period from companies in the Global Electronics Association’s survey sample. A ratio of more than 1.00 suggests that current demand is ahead of supply, which is a positive indicator for sales growth over the next three to 12 months. A ratio of less than 1.00 indicates the reverse.

Year-on-year and year-to-date growth rates provide the most meaningful view of industry growth. Month-to-month comparisons should be made with caution as they reflect seasonal effects and short-term volatility. Because bookings tend to be more volatile than shipments, changes in the book-to-bill ratios from month to month might not be significant unless a trend of more than three consecutive months is apparent. It is also important to consider changes in both bookings and shipments to understand what is driving changes in the book-to-bill ratio.

The Global Electronics Association’s monthly EMS industry statistics are based on data provided by a representative sample of assembly equipment manufacturers selling in the USA and Canada. The Association publishes the EMS book-to-bill ratio by the end of each month.
 

The Global Electronics Association Appoints Hisashi Kitajima as Japan Representative

The Global Electronics Association today announced the appointment of Hisashi Kitajima as its Japan Representative, effective January 1, 2026.

Kitajima will support the Association’s activities in Japan, focusing on stakeholder engagement, ecosystem development, and strategic growth initiatives. Based in Tokyo and with the existing team, he we will collaborate closely with member companies, industry partners, and relevant organizations to strengthen Japan’s engagement with the global electronics community and deliver value to the Association’s members in Japan.

Kitajima brings more than 20 years of experience in global marketing, strategy consulting, and business development. His professional background includes senior roles at PricewaterhouseCoopers and the Ogilvy Group, as well as advisory and leadership work supporting Japanese and multinational companies across the electronics, automotive, and industrial sectors. 

“Japan remains a strategically important market and a vital contributor to the global electronics ecosystem,” said Sydney Xiao, president, East Asia, Global Electronics Association. “With Hisashi’s leadership and deep understanding of both global organizations and the Japanese market, we are strengthening our ability to engage Japanese industry more deeply and to elevate Japan’s role in shaping global industry collaboration.”