Leaders of IPC member companies descended on Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, May 15 for the first IPC Impact Day of 2024. IPC Impact Days are a chance for industry executives to speak directly with government officials on policies that are crucial to our industry, including investments in domestic PCBs and advanced packaging under the Defense Production Act; the need for a “silicon-to-systems” approach to the CHIPS and Science Act; and incentives for workforce training and industry certifications.
“Made in India” was a central phrase at EWPTE 2024. The wire harness event hosted the inaugural “India Pavilion” which showcased Indian wire harness companies on the exhibit floor. The Pavilion was opened with pomp and circumstance by the Wire Harness Manufacturer’s Association (WHMA) Board Chair, David Bergman on Wednesday, May 15 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The show shone the spotlight on 15 exhibiting companies from India entering the North American market.
A new video released today by IPC says “focusing on chips just isn’t enough” when it comes to ensuring America’s resilience and security. Instead, the U.S. Government should take a comprehensive “silicon-to-systems” approach to its CHIPS for America and defense electronics programs.
The U.S. EPA recently finalized a risk management rule for methylene chloride under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
In early April, the European Commission took another step in advancing semiconductor technology by allocating the first tranche of funding for “pilot lines” under the European Chips Act.
In March, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) unveiled a strategy aimed at catalyzing microelectronics innovation in the United States.
The call for sustainability in the electronics industry reverberates globally, marking a pivotal moment in our history. With a commitment to fostering change, IPC is actively engaged in empowering manufacturers to navigate this transformative journey.
Dr. John W. Mitchell, President & CEO of IPC, contributed his expertise as a panel speaker at the prestigious Keidanren Top Management Seminar on International Standards Strategy in Tokyo on June 1. The event convened a distinguished group of policymakers, industry leaders, and experts to explore the pivotal role of international standardization in driving global collaboration and securing competitive advantages.
The upheaval of recent years reminds us that change is inevitable. Growth, on the other hand, is merely possible. Across the globe, growth in the electronics manufacturing sector is constrained by workforce shortages and a persistent skills gap. Demand for manufacturing output continues to rise just as access to qualified workers diminishes. Baby Boomers are aging out of the workforce, the expectations of workers are evolving, and there is a prevalent mismatch between the skills employees require and the skills available workers possess. This dogged state of affairs limits the industry’s growth and leads to increased production costs in an already thin-margin sector.
IPC achieved a landmark in 2023 by creating an apprenticeship program approved by the U.S. Department of Labor. With such a registered framework in place, industry can work through IPC to secure local, state, and federal dollars for workforce development in a way they’ve never been able to do before.