-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- pcb007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueThe Growing Industry
In this issue of PCB007 Magazine, we talk with leading economic experts, advocacy specialists in Washington, D.C., and PCB company leadership to get a well-rounded picture of what’s happening in the industry today. Don’t miss it.
The Sustainability Issue
Sustainability is one of the most widely used terms in business today, especially for electronics and manufacturing but what does it mean to you? We explore the environmental, business, and economic impacts.
The Fabricator’s Guide to IPC APEX EXPO
This issue previews many of the important events taking place at this year's show and highlights some changes and opportunities. So, buckle up. We are counting down to IPC APEX EXPO 2024.
- Articles
- Columns
Search Console
- Links
- Events
||| MENU - pcb007 Magazine
Mexico and IPC On the Move
June 23, 2023 | Lorena Villanueva, IPC Mexico, DirectorEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
There’s a saying that highly successful people have three things in common: motivation, ability, and opportunity. The same can be said for electronics manufacturing and assembly in Mexico: We have the motivation, the ability, and the unique opportunity to take this industry to the next level.
For many years, Mexican companies have reliably produced various products for global markets, and together with more recent investments in homegrown talent, have positioned Mexican manufacturing to take advantage of recent shifts in global supply chains and consumer markets.
Similarly, IPC has a long history with Mexican companies, providing standards and certification to a largely labor-based workforce. There are nearly 140 IPC member companies with facilities in Mexico.
A Growing Need
As the electronics industry grew in Mexico, IPC recognized it must train and certify not only labor-intensive roles, but the more technical roles, such as inspection, design, and engineering. In early 2020, immediately prior to the global COVID pandemic, IPC personnel traveled to Mexico and met with numerous companies in our industry. Their goal was to learn how best to serve this growing need for training and certification. While the pandemic restricted further in-person investigation for a time, IPC continued its conversations virtually to guide the development of training programs with Mexico.
In 2022, once pandemic restrictions were manageable and newly developed training products had been made available in both English and Spanish, IPC’s Education Team once again set its sights on face-to-face engagement in Mexico. It wasn’t enough, however, for IPC just to create Spanish-language products for this vital market and to serve the electronics industry from afar. That’s where I come in.
Putting Boots on the Ground
I am based in Mexico City and my experience in various professional roles with global brands has positioned me to accelerate IPC’s strategy development and understanding of Mexico’s electronics manufacturing needs—both Mexico’s common goals in a global market, as well as its unique challenges. We have found there’s a lot of work to be done on “re-educating” the local industry on the difference between certification and training and seeing workforce training as an investment rather than just an expense.
With its strong foundation based on IPC standards and certification, the IPC Education Team began months of intense relationship building as well as market research and analysis. The results were immediate. Through our in-person, social media, and marketing activities, we were flooded with messages from companies and individuals interested in knowing more about IPC Mexico, learning about our specialized training courses, and understanding our certification programs and industry standards.
We launched several pilot programs with key members and nonmembers of IPC, such as Benchmark and Continental, that have strong operations in Mexico. Our objective was for them to achieve better quality, lower costs, and improve productivity through training—something obvious, but not so popular. We met with the leadership teams, human resources, and training leaders; walked with their operations, quality, and engineering teams; and had coffee and cookies with the operators. We walked the floor and listened to people, hoping to understand their needs and how they are carrying out their daily manufacturing activities.
To read the rest of this article, which appeared in the Spring 2023 issue of IPC Community, click here.
Suggested Items
ZESTRON Academy Launches 2024 Advanced Packaging & Power Electronics Webinar Series
05/01/2024 | ZESTRONZESTRON, the leading global provider of high-precision cleaning products, services, and training solutions in the electronics manufacturing and semiconductor industries, proudly announces the launch of its highly anticipated webinar series on Advanced Packaging & Power Electronics, a webinar series on the latest innovations, cleaning, and corrosion challenges.
NextFlex Convenes the Hybrid Electronics Community at Binghamton University
05/01/2024 | NextFlexBinghamton University hosted the NextFlex hybrid electronics community on April 18 for a day of expert presentations, breakout sessions on technology and manufacturing topics, and networking.
HQ NextPCB of HQ Electronics Debut on the International Stage for Electronics Manufacture at IPC APEX 2024
05/01/2024 | PRNewswireHQ NextPCB of HQ Electronics, a leading Chinese-based multilayer PCB manufacturer and assembly house showcased its industrial prowess on the international stage for the first time at the IPC APEX Expo 2024.
GPV’s Q1 2024 Interim Financial Report Shows Strong Navigation in Uncertain Times
05/01/2024 | GPVDanish-based GPV recorded an expected drop in sales to DKK 2.3 billion for the first quarter of 2024. The decline also affected the operating profit, which was DKK 155 million compared to DKK 179 million in the same quarter last year, although the EBITDA margin was maintained. In general, demand has been softer in 2024, but GPV continues to invest for the long-term and expects the trend to turn in the second half of 2024.
All-Inclusive: PRIDE Industries Helps Employees With Disabilities to Succeed
05/01/2024 | Sandy Gentry, IPCPRIDE Industries is the leading employer of people with disabilities and those with other barriers to employment in the United States, including veterans and former foster youth. The company offers job training, placement, on-the-job coaching, and skills development for independent living. It has held IPC membership since 2000. Read more about this unique business and its connection to the electronics manufacturing industry.