IFTEC’s Pierre-Jean Albrieux Inducted into the IPC Raymond E. Pritchard Hall of Fame at IPC APEX EXPO 2024

In recognition of his extraordinary contributions to IPC and the electronics manufacturing industry, Pierre-Jean Albrieux, president of IFTEC-France, was inducted into the IPC Raymond E. Pritchard Hall of Fame at IPC APEX EXPO 2024. IPC’s most prestigious honor, the Hall of Fame Award is given to individuals who have provided exceptional service and advancement to IPC and the electronics industry.

Albrieux was honored for his enthusiastic support for IPC’s mission to serve the electronics industry as an advocate for IPC training and certification. Under Albrieux’s leadership, IFTEC has translated multiple IPC standards, training programs for IPC certifications, and Certified IPC Designer and Certified IPC Designer+ study guides into French. IFTEC has been involved in IPC hand soldering competitions in France since 2016, with staff serving as judges at competitions and championships throughout Europe. IFTEC staff members also participate in approximately 30 standards development and training committees. 

A winner of the IPC President’s Award in 2016, Albrieux was recognized for shaping IFTEC into a leading and model IPC Training and Certification Center and Distributor in Western Europe, growing IPC membership in France and promoting IPC services to industry and for overseeing the creation of the IPC Design Council Chapter in France. 

Albrieux is deeply involved in the industry in France, especially with SNESE, (National Association of French Electronic Subcontracting Firms, the representative body of electronic subcontracting trade in France since 1983.

IPC President and CEO John Mitchell notes Albrieux’s accomplishments, “Those who work closely with Pierre-Jean immediately recognize his expertise, strong leadership skills and the knowledge and experience he possesses to accomplish as much as he has. He is respected as a subject matter expert, always ready to move the industry forward as a strong advocate for the development and use of IPC standards in France and beyond.”

IPC Honors Summit Interconnect and Robert Bosch GmbH with Corporate Recognition Awards

IPC presented its highest corporate honors to two IPC member companies, Summit Interconnect and Robert Bosch GmbH during the IPC Annual Meeting/Awards Ceremony at IPC APEX EXPO 2024. The Peter Sarmanian Corporate Recognition Award was presented to Summit Interconnect and the Stan Plzak Corporate Recognition Award was presented to Robert Bosch GmbH.

The Peter Samarian Corporate Recognition Award, named for a former IPC Board Chairman, recognizes an IPC-member company in the printed board industry (PCB) that has supported IPC through participation in technical and management programs while providing leadership for the industry.

Summit Interconnect is North America's largest privately held printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturer. Founded in 2017, four Summit locations are certified to the IPC-1791, Trusted Electronic Designer, Fabricator and Assembler Requirements standard, ensuring vetted and secure PCB supply to our nation's critical industries such as defense, aerospace, and medical electronics. Summit staff have been staunch supporters of IPC’s advocacy program, with staff serving on IPC’s North American Government Relations Committee, and USPAE Board of Directors, and attending numerous IPC IMPACT events in Washington, D.C.

More than 115 Summit staff members are Certified IPC Specialists (CIS), Certified IPC Trainers (CIT), or Certified IPC Designers (CID) to such standards as IPC-A-600 and IPC-6012.

Named for former IPC Board Chairman and founding member of the IPC Electronics Manufacturing Services Industry Management Council, the IPC Stan Plzak Corporate Recognition Award honors an IPC-member company in the electronics assembly industry (EMS) that actively contributes to the industry while supporting IPC technical and management programs.   

Robert Bosch GmbH Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services, employing approximately 428,000 associates worldwide. As a leading IoT provider, Bosch offers innovative solutions for smart homes, Industry 4.0, and connected mobility. Mobility is the largest Bosch Group business sector, making the Bosch Group one of the leading automotive suppliers.

More than 15 Robert Bosch GmbH staff members serve on IPC standards development committees, and 35 members have earned CID and CIT certifications.

“IPC benefits tremendously from Summit and Bosch’s leadership and expertise,” said John W. Mitchell, IPC president and CEO. “Both organizations have consistently contributed staff resources and knowledge to standards development and other IPC programs and initiatives. Their involvement has directly contributed to IPC’s global growth in the electronics industry, and we are privileged to have them in our membership.”

For more information on IPC’s Corporate Recognition Awards and other honors presented at IPC APEX EXPO, contact Sandy Gentry, IPC communications director, at SandyGentry@ipc.org or +1 847-597-2871.

IPC Publishes Comprehensive Strategy to Address Electronics Industry’s Global Workforce Challenge, Calls on Leaders in Government, Business and Education for Support

One of the most difficult and urgent challenges facing the electronics industry is a chronic shortage of adequately skilled workers. Today, IPC unveiled an expansion of its strategy to address the workforce challenges of the U.S. electronics manufacturing industry and called on its more than 3,000 member companies to join in the effort.

IPC sets out a solutions-focused workforce plan in a white paper written by David Hernandez, IPC vice president of education, Carlos Plaza, IPC senior director of education and Dr. John W. Mitchell, IPC president and CEO. The paper, “Building Electronics Better: A Plan to Address the Workforce Challenges Facing the Electronics Manufacturing Industry,” targets both immediate labor market needs and the long-term sustainability and growth of the industry by building a skilled, adaptable, and motivated workforce. IPC’s ambitious approach is focused on developing rewarding career pathways.

“IPC is the largest provider of education and workforce development in our industry,” said John W. Mitchell. “We credential more than 145,000 people per year, and we recently secured federal recognition for three registered apprenticeship programs. But we can’t do it alone – we’re calling on our partners in industry, academia, and government to join us on this critically important journey.” 

“Significant challenges, including the lack of a well-defined school-to-industry pipeline, have contributed to industry workforce shortages that constrain the industry's growth and lead to increased production costs,” said David Hernandez. “IPC is delivering a multifaceted approach to recruitment and training. This is essential if we are to turn current socioeconomic, demographic, and cultural trends into opportunities for growth.”

According to the white paper, rising demand for electronic devices across the commercial, healthcare, automotive, and industrial sectors will see the global electronics manufacturing services (EMS) market grow from about $534 billion in 2023 to $856 billion in 2030. Key elements of IPC’s plan include:

  • Talent Pipeline: Establishing partnerships between educational institutions, businesses, government agencies, and non-profit organizations to ensure a steady flow of skilled workers into the electronics manufacturing industry.
  • Career Pathways: Developing clear and structured career pathways that outline progression from entry-level positions to advanced roles, enhancing the visibility of career advancement opportunities within the industry.
  • Training and Education: Prioritizing the development of industry-defined training programs that equip individuals with the necessary skills and knowledge, including both technical and soft skills.
  • Dispelling Myths: Launching outreach efforts to improve the perception of manufacturing careers, highlighting the innovative aspects of the industry, and addressing misconceptions about manufacturing jobs.
  • Partnerships: Encouraging collaboration between government, academia, and industry to speed the transition of students and trainees into the workforce, including internships, apprenticeships, and mentorship programs.
  • Standardized Credentials: Supporting the adoption of universally recognized, stackable credentials that validate the competencies and skills of qualified job candidates.

The electronics industry is gathering this week at IPC APEX EXPO 2024. Held in Anaheim from April 6–11, IPC APEX EXPO features a world-class trade show, a cutting-edge technical conference, and impactful keynote speakers. This year’s event boasts the largest gathering of leading electronics manufacturers, suppliers, and product innovators, a high-quality technical conference with peer-reviewed paper presentations, and professional development courses focused on innovation to build electronics better.

IPC Announces New Board Members at IPC APEX EXPO 2024

At the 67th IPC Annual Meeting on April 9, held in conjunction with IPC APEX EXPO 2024, the IPC Board of Directors announced new officers and new and second-term members. Board officers serve a two-year term, board members serve a four-year term, and the student board member serves a one-year term.

The newly elected Board officers are:

  • IPC Board Chair: Tom Edman, President and CEO, TTM Technologies
  • IPC Board Vice Chair: Jeff Timms, CEO, ASMPT SMT USA LLC
  • IPC Board Secretary/Treasurer: Peter Cleveland, Senior Vice President, TSMC

First time Board members are:

  • Gerald Eckstein, Senior Vice President, Engineering Electronic Control Units & Head of Business Unit Mechatronics, Robert Bosch GmbH
  • Parker Garrett, CEO, EMSCO
  • Greg Maxwell, Vice President, Advanced & Strategic Global Supply Chain for Operations, Northrop Grumman Mission Systems
  • Jaesang Min, Research Fellow, LG PRI (Production Engineering Research Institute)

Second term Board members are:

  • Marc Peo, President, Heller Industries
  • Hiroyuki Watanabe, Executive Vice President and Member of the Board for New Business and Sales, NEC Corporation

Student Board member is:

  • Waad Tarman, Auburn University

"IPC is privileged to have these outstanding professionals on our current slate of Board members,” said John W. Mitchell, IPC president and CEO. “We look forward to working with them as we advance the global electronics industry and build electronics better.” 

In addition to Board election announcements, IPC honored six outgoing Board Members:

  • Henry Crandall, Ph.D. Candidate, University of Utah
  • Joe DeMan, President, Interconnect Dynamics — An Amphenol Global Solutions Provider
  • Robert Feuerstein, Chief Information Security Officer, Group Sector Automotive, Continental AG
  • Steve Pudles, Board of Directors and Advisor, Zentech Manufacturing, Inc.
  • Lisa Weeks, SVP, Chief Strategy Officer and Head of Investor Relations, Benchmark Electronics
  • Shane Whiteside, President and CEO, Summit Interconnect

Added Mitchell, “IPC expresses its sincere gratitude to Henry, Joe, Robert, Steve, Lisa and Shane for their dedicated service to the IPC Board. All have shared their expertise with IPC and industry – we thank them for imparting their knowledge and helping guide IPC to best serve our members and the global electronics community.”

IPC Releases “J” Revisions to Two Leading Standards for Electronics Assembly

IPC J-STD-001 and IPC-A-610 cover printed board assembly process controls, materials, and post-assembly acceptance criteria for the electronics industry

IPC announces the release of revisions for two leading standards for the electronics assembly industry. IPC J-STD-001J, Requirements for Soldered Electrical and Electronic Assemblies is recognized as the sole industry-consensus standard for soldering processes and materials. IPC-A-610J, Acceptability of Electronic Assemblies, is a post-assembly acceptance standard used to ensure electronic assemblies meet acceptance requirements for the electronics industry. These two documents are often used together for the manufacture of electronic assemblies.

Revisions to these standards are completed every three years, with significant changes made to each one. Clear guidance on the use of the standard can be found in the first chapter of each document. Committee leaders addressed more than 1,350 comments for revision “J.” Some of the significant changes found in the standards are as follows:

Global changes implemented in both documents:

  • Removed redundant minimum electrical clearance references – covered in Chapter 1 of documents
  • Clarified the use and definition of wire, lead and conductor

Changes to IPC J-STD-001J (Representatives from 27 countries worked on the standard):

  • Added hardware installation requirements
  • Added graphics to address bubbles in X-ray images

Changes to IPC-A-610J (Representatives from 29 countries worked on the standard):

  • Chapter 10 has new images
  • Conformal coating – clarified voiding/bubbles

In addition to the new revisions for IPC J-STD-001J and IPC-A-610J, redline documents are also available. A white paper is available IPC-WP-028, Guidance on Objective Evidence for Validating the Acceptability of Bubbles in Conformal Coatings.

Canon Taiwan Earns IPC J-STD-001 and IPC-A-610 Qualified Manufacturer’s Listing

IPC’s Validation Services Program has awarded an IPC Qualified Manufacturers Listing (QML) to Canon Taiwan, a leader in the optical industry, producing single-lens reflex/mirrorless digital cameras, camera lenses, accessories and network surveillance monitors.

Canon Taiwan met or exceeded the requirements for the electronics industry's most rigorous classification, Class 3, which is intended for dedicated service electronics products. As a result of successfully completing an intensive audit, based on two of IPC's foremost standards: IPC J-STD-001, Requirements for Soldered Electrical and Electronic Assemblies and IPC-A-610, Acceptability of Electronic Assemblies, Canon Taiwan is now among a trusted source of electronics suppliers found on IPC's QML/QPL database at www.ipcvalidation.org.

“Through IPC training, we strengthened our capabilities in SMT processes, practiced KPI, and further developed our differential analysis abilities,” said Keita Sanada, president, Canon Taiwan. “After implementing internal education and training to reinforce quality management, we pursued QML recognition. With guidance from IPC auditors, Canon Taiwan had the opportunity for self-reflection and improvement based on IPC standards, ultimately achieving QML Class 3 validation.”

“Passing this audit demonstrates Canon Taiwan’s standards in quality control, process control, and production technology,” said Randy Cherry, director, IPC Validation Services. “It also upholds Canon’s tenets of ‘jihatsu’ (proactivity), ‘jichi’ (self-management) and ‘jigaku’ (self-awareness). By earning the QML, Canon Taiwan has shown its commitment to delivering the highest level of quality in electronics manufacturing.”

For more information about IPC’s Validation Services program in Asia, contact marketingchina@ipc.org.

Onshoring Advanced Packaging and Assembly 2024

Date
-

The International Microelectronics Assembly and Packaging Society (IMAPS) and IPC will host a three-day workshop to discuss and promote strategies to improve On-Shoring Advanced Packaging and Assembly, April 29 - May 1, 2024, at The Westin Arlington in Arlington, Va.  This workshop will bring Government agencies, the DIB (Defense Industrial Base) and advanced packaging and assembly providers together to discuss their efforts to onshore advanced packaging.  The mission of this workshop is to engage our workforce community to identify the newly created advanced packaging programs which address U.S. Government and Defense requirements critical to the onshoring of the microelectronic assembly and packaging supply chain.  Government agencies including the Department of Commerce/NIST, DoD (SHIP/IBAS/Title III/Printed Circuit Board Executive Agent), DARPA and SRC will be briefing on their advanced packaging programs.

The workshop will feature two days of focused sessions, keynote presentations, a panel discussion, and a variety of networking opportunities. The event will kick-off on Monday with a pre-program day filled with 2-hour professional development courses and/or additional working groups addressing a variety of topics relevant to the onshoring of advanced packaging.  The 2024 Workshop will also feature networking opportunities with sponsors and tabletop exhibitors. 

Workshop registration restricted to U.S. Passport Holders Only

The Westin Arlington

801 North Glebe Road
Arlington, VA 22203
United States

The Westin Arlington

The Westin Arlington
801 North Glebe Road
Arlington, VA 22203
United States

IPC, First and Only Organization in the Electronics Industry to Earn ANSI/ANAB Accreditation for Its Workforce Training

IPC, the global leader in electronics education, announces a landmark achievement in professional education and training. Ten of IPC’s critical workforce training programs have been accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) under the stringent requirements of ANSI/ASTM E2659-18, Standard Practice for Certificate Programs. This accreditation marks IPC as the first and only organization in the electronics industry to attain this prestigious recognition for its workforce programs.

The accredited training programs include:

  • Advanced Design Concepts
  • Electronics Assembly for Engineers
  • Electronics Assembly for Operators
  • Introduction to PCB Design I
  • Introduction to PCB Design II
  • PCB Design for Manufacturability
  • PCB Design for Military & Aerospace Applications
  • PCB Design for Rigid-Flex Boards
  • PCB Troubleshooting and Defect Analysis
  • Wire Harness Assembly for Operators

This accreditation underscores IPC’s commitment to providing high-quality, relevant, and effective training that meets the needs of professionals in the electronics industry. It signifies that IPC’s programs have met rigorous standards for industry alignment, content, instructor qualification, and instructional design, ensuring they deliver valuable knowledge and skills to participants.

“Receiving ANSI/ANAB accreditation is a significant milestone for IPC and a testament to the excellence of our training programs,” said David Hernandez, IPC’s vice president of education. “This recognition not only validates the quality of our education offerings but also reflects our ongoing commitment to setting the highest standards for training in the electronics industry.”

The ANSI/ANAB accreditation is recognized internationally and is a benchmark for certificate programs that adhere to the best practices in instructional design and delivery. It assures employers, professionals, and stakeholders in the electronics industry that IPC’s training courses are among the best available, providing essential skills and knowledge to advance careers and enhance organizational performance.

For more information about IPC’s ANSI/ANAB accredited training programs and how they can benefit professionals and organizations in the electronics industry, visit https://education.ipc.org.

Creep Corrosion in Electronics – A Panel Discussion

Date
- (12:00 - 1:00pm CDT)

A group of industry experts will discuss the evidence of the root causes of creep corrosion, relevant testing, and effective mitigation strategies available to prevent creep corrosion failures in electronics. Fundamentally, creep corrosion is the product of the reaction of copper with sulfur, which may be mitigated with manufacturing processes, such as the printed circuit board solder mask and surface finish, conformal coating, and enclosure levels, as well as during end-use operation, such as filtration. Several types of harsh environmental test methods that are used to evaluate for product susceptibility to creep corrosion will also be reviewed.

Panelists include:
 • Randy Schueller, Ph.D., Dell, Director, Client Reliability & Durability
 • Christopher Genthe, Rockwell Automation, Senior Principal Engineer
 • Paul Leone, Rockwell Automation, Principal Engineer

Sean Clancy, Ph.D.

Lead Panelist Bio

Sean Clancy Ph.D. is the Director of Materials Science at HZO and an Adjunct Professor in the Materials Science and Engineering Department at the University of Utah. Sean has been associated with HZO for over ten years and is responsible for ALD and Parylene coating process development for advanced applications and assisting marketing and sales with new customer development. 

Before joining HZO, Sean led the electronics failure analysis group and managed projects at the US Navy’s Electronics Manufacturing Productivity Facility, administered by ACI Technologies. He has also worked in research fields involving carbon nanotubes, polymer supercapacitors, light-emitting materials, and medicinal chemistry. He received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from University of Southern California and his B.S. in Chemistry from the University of North Florida.

Panelist Bios

Randy Schueller, Ph.D., Dell, Director, Client Reliability & Durability
Randy has returned to Dell in 2021 to run the Reliability & Durability groups.  Before this, he was Director of Reliability at Osram/Vixar and before that he was a consultant for DfR Solutions.  He has also held product development and leadership roles at 3M, Extreme Devices and Dell Technologies.  Randy received his B.S. in physics from St. John’s U and his Ph.D. in Materials Science Engineering from the University of Virginia.

Christopher Genthe, Rockwell Automation, Senior Principal Engineer
Chris Genthe is a Senior Principal Engineer with Rockwell Automation’s Chemistry and Materials Engineering Group.  He has over 35 years of experience in materials, including metallurgy, corrosion identification, and control, material selection, failure analysis, processing, and accelerated testing, with 25 years at Rockwell. Chris has co-authored several publications, has three patents pertaining to corrosion control of electronic assemblies, received seven Rockwell innovation awards, and was a member of the 2018 Rockwell Team of the Year.  Chris was awarded the Rockwell Engineer of the Year in 2020 for his work on the development of gas phase accelerated corrosion test methods that target specific corrosion mechanisms in electronics. He earned a BS and MS in Materials Engineering from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and is an adjunct professor teaching Environmental Degradation of Materials at the same institution.  

Paul Leone, Rockwell Automation, Principal Engineer, Quality & Reliability
Paul Leone is a Principal Engineer in Quality & Reliability at Rockwell Automation. He has over 25 years of industrial and manufacturing experience ranging from product design to end-user control system integration. He is the first to achieve the Principal Engineer title in Quality at Rockwell Automation. Paul is recognized as a subject matter expert in corrosion of electronics, failure analysis, and design for reliability (DfR). He has consulted with component manufacturers to develop corrosion-resistant components. He has been featured in multiple webinars and publications focused on the impact of corrosion in electronics and design for reliability in corrosive environments. He received his BS in EET from Penn State University.

On First Anniversary of Biden Action on Defense Electronics, Cautious Optimism

Mar 27, 2024

By Rich Cappetto, Senior Director, North American Government Relations

Today, March 27, is the first anniversary of U.S. President Joe Biden’s “presidential determination” (PD) on printed circuit boards (PCBs), advanced packaging, and IC substrates – a milestone action by the U.S. government that has paved the way to U.S. government investments in these technologies under Title III of the Defense Production Act (DPA).

One year out from the Biden action, there’s room for both optimism, and concern.

On the positive side, the PD was a concrete step in recognition of the electronics manufacturing industry and its critical role in powering defense technology. The FY24 budget proposal included a line item under the DPA for advanced packaging and PCBs; and the FY24 spending deal recently approved by Congress and signed into law by President Biden includes $587.9 million for all DPA purchases.

These funds had been on the chopping block, and IPC had swung into action to defend them. Specifically, we had dozens of meetings and communications with the Hill, and we co-organized a letter to Congress from more than 50 industry executives.

As a result, legislators were kept informed about the critical need to fund the Presidential Determination on PCBs, and the final result is $156 million more than the low end of the negotiation. Moreover, the negotiators issued an explanatory statement which says, “The Secretary of Defense is encouraged to prioritize Defense Production Act investments in support of domestic printed circuit board fabrication.”

IPC now calls on the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to proceed with allocating the full $85 million it had budgeted for PCBs and advanced packaging as it implements the FY24 spending package.

Also on the positive side, the DOD in 2023 awarded two IPC member companies a combined total of $86.1 million under the DPA. Calumet Electronics won $39.9 million to produce high-density build-up (HDBU) substrates; and Green Source won $46.2 million to enhance production of IC substrates, high-density interconnect (HDI), ultra-high-density interconnect (UHDI), and advanced packaging.  

Investment in IC substrates in the United States is a critical need, as highlighted in a 2023 report by IPC’s Chief Technologist Council on how to get the most benefit out of the CHIPS and Science Act.

But despite these welcome signs of progress, much more work remains to be done.

Specifically, the U.S. Government needs to make a clear, unambiguous commitment to a “silicon-to-systems” strategy, not a “chips-only” strategy. Semiconductor chips don’t operate on their own; they must be mounted on PCBs and interconnected with other components to function. More advanced chips require more advanced components and assemblies, and the United States has very limited capabilities and capacities in today’s most cutting-edge technologies.

Unless the U.S. makes a clear and continuing commitment to the “ecosystem” approach to electronics, the growing supply of advanced silicon chips made in newly minted fabs in Arizona, California or Ohio will still need to be sent abroad for packaging and assembly into finished products, leaving the nation vulnerable to supply chain disruptions.

Moreover, an even bigger challenge now looms to ensure that funding for the electronics ecosystem continues in FY25. The administration’s recent FY25 budget proposal contains a 33% reduction for the Defense Production Act below the FY24 enacted level. Even more troubling, no additional funds are requested for PCB and advanced packaging beyond those approved in FY23 and FY24. Unless these figures are corrected, it will undermine the initial progress made in expanding industrial capacity, resulting in stalled momentum in 2025 and beyond.

IPC marks today’s anniversary of the PD milestone with gratitude for the progress to date, while at the same remaining clear-eyed about the tall task remaining to ensure continuing investment in the U.S. electronics ecosystem.

 

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