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Letter re: It's Only Common Sense: Circle the Wagons
August 10, 2009 |Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
Dear Dan and readers of i-Connect007.com:
I listened with interest to your audio column It's Only Common Sense: Circle the Wagons. It is clear to me that the many excellent activities of the IPC PCB Presidents Management Council Steering Committee and other IPC Committees are not getting the acknowledgement they deserve. PCB companies are working together on issues they have identified as critical to the future success of their companies.
Most recently, a Task Force of senior level executives from the leading North American PCB companies developed comprehensive policy recommendations for building upon and sustaining a North American PCB industry capable of supporting Department of Defense (DoD) needs and ensuring national security. The Task Force produced recommendations to the recently appointed DoD PCB Executive Agent. This same group is working on a Technology Roadmap focused on the specific needs of printed boards in DoD electronics. More information about the Task Force, the Executive Agent and the policy recommendations is available at www.ipc.org/pcb-competitiveness.
In another key initiative, IPC staff and volunteers spent years working on a revision of the U.S. EPA Definition of Solid Waste. Finally, in October 2008, EPA removed the regulatory barriers that inhibit the recycling of manufacturing wastes, potentially saving the industry millions of dollars while reducing waste in the environment.
IPC members can participate free (now, that's not a word you hear too often) and receive reports on hourly wages and executive compensation--specific to the PCB industry. The Supply Chain Tracker, also free to members, examines leading indicators to help the industry anticipate and plan for change in the business environment. In addition, IPC publishes "Fast Facts" surveys, which report on industry issues such as trends in regional sourcing and OEM demands for HDI PCBs.
This year, the IPC PCB Management Council Steering Committee published a white paper dispelling the myths of why North American PCB fabricators cannot produce HDI. The IPC PCB Suppliers Management Council published an implementation guide for PCB fabricators interested in manufacturing embedded passive boards.
Every year, we host two management conferences specific to PCB companies. This October, the IPC Electronics Industry Executive Summit will provide senior level executives with the information they need on market trends, new technologies and management strategies so they can plan for the future.
This summer, IPC held an Executive Webcast Series, "Surviving and Thriving in Tough Times: Information to Improve Your Business and Cut Costs." This nine-part series featured topics on everything from pricing in an uncertain economy to developing customer partnerships to how the industry can take advantage of the stimulus package.
IPC also holds an annual technology interchange. This is an opportunity for the supply chain--OEMs, PCB fabricators, EMS providers and suppliers--to come together and determine how to met roadmap requirements. Previous hosts include Motorola, Intel and Endicott Interconnect Technologies. The next technology interchange will be in December and focus on how the North American industry can meet the requirements of the U.S. military.
This is only a small snapshot of what IPC does for the North American PCB industry.
Not only do we encourage our members to participate in these events, we also encourage them to work with us to help provide what the industry needs. The PCB Presidents Management Council Steering Committee will be meeting in October in Scottsdale, Arizona. We welcome participants and suggestions for making the PCB industry and our members successful.
Sincerely,
Tony HilversVice President of Industry Programs, IPC