Although politics and theater may have permeated President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address on Thursday night, there were several points when the substantive interests of the electronics manufacturing industry were mentioned, from the CHIPS program to Buy American to the skilled workforce and corporate taxes.
When most people think of California, they think about miles of beautiful beaches, the Pacific Ocean, wineries, national parks and cities brimming with excitement. But did you know California is the #1 state in the United States for electronics manufacturing? That’s just one of the reasons that IPC is convening IPC APEX EXPO 2024 in Anaheim, but it’s a pretty good reason.
IPC joined with the Printed Circuit Board Association of America (PCBAA) to deliver a letter to Congress today that was signed by 54 member companies. The impactful letter called on Congress to fully fund the Defense Production Act Purchases Account at the House-passed level of $618 million and $1.08 billion for the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment program.
Today at the White House, leaders from the Departments of Commerce, Defense, and Energy; the National Science Foundation; and the National Center for the Advancement of Semiconductor Technology (NatCast) gathered for an event to announce more than $5 billion in expected investment in the CHIPS R&D program.
I am proud to share that IPC’s Apprenticeship Program is growing! We have just added our third occupation to our National Standards of Apprenticeship – Printed Circuit Board Design Engineer.
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).
The Interdisciplinary Center for Advanced Manufacturing Systems (ICAMS) at Auburn University is again conducting a study on behalf of the Department of Defense to understand the issues and hurdles manufacturers face when adopting smart manufacturing technologies. That information then helps inform development of solutions to overcome those challenges and help manufacturers become more successful. You can read last year’s results here: Smart-Manufacturing-Study.pdf (auburn.edu).
Today, IPC delivered a letter to Congress signed by 49 industry executives urging them to sustain current investments in the electronics industrial base or risk putting the United States even further behind the global competition.
In the ever-evolving world of electronics, staying ahead of the curve is essential for any professional in the field. At IPC, we understand the importance of cutting-edge knowledge and skills, which is why we offer a range of PCB Design courses tailored to meet the needs of designers at every level. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned expert, our courses provide the tools and insights you need to excel. Let's explore how these courses can transform your PCB engineering methods and elevate your career.
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.