Recorded conversations and interviews on electronics design and manufacturing with the editors of PCD&F/Circuits Assembly, brought to you by the Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA)
Episodes
Friday Sep 12, 2025
Friday Sep 12, 2025
Stephen Chavez is principal technical product marketing manager with Siemens, but he’s best known for his three decades as a printed circuit designer and instructor. He’s a regular contributor to various industry publications and host of the Printed Circuit Podcast. He also coauthored and teaches the PCEA Training Certified Printed Circuit Designer curriculum, and is chairman of PCEA.
He talks about some of the issues designers are running into, his upcoming presentations at PCB West, and the design-related programs at the college level, where he has been teaching of late.
Friday Aug 29, 2025
Friday Aug 29, 2025
Mike Konrad is joined by two of the most respected names in the electronics manufacturing industry, Phil Zarrow and Jim Hall. Together, they bring decades of hands-on experience and unparalleled insight into the challenges and solutions within our field.
Hall and Zarrow are the driving forces behind ITM Consulting, where they help manufacturers around the world improve processes, solve complex problems, and build more reliable products.
Whether it’s soldering, cleaning, reflow profiling, process control, or failure analysis, these two have seen it all, fixed it all, and taught it all.
In this episode, we tackle some of the most pressing issues facing the industry today, from the challenges of miniaturization, the reality of voiding, to the rise of electronics deployed into harsh environments, to IPC standards, and the role of process control in ensuring long-term reliability.
Whether you're a process engineer, a quality manager, or simply passionate about electronics manufacturing, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.
Thursday Jul 24, 2025
Thursday Jul 24, 2025
As the electric vehicle market accelerates, the reliability of the charging infrastructure becomes increasingly vital. Chargers that are down or malfunctioning can hinder adoption and erode consumer confidence. But who ensures these chargers stay up and running?
This episode of Reliability Matters dives into that very topic with a trailblazer in the EV service space. Our guest is Kameale Terry, cofounder and CEO of ChargerHelp!, a company revolutionizing how we think about EV charger maintenance and reliability.
Under her leadership, ChargerHelp! has pioneered Reliability as a Service, developed a highly trained and diverse technician workforce, and shaped industry policies aimed at improving charger uptime.
Terry's journey is as inspiring as it is innovative, leading a national movement for a more reliable and equitable EV charging network. With backgrounds in workforce development, clean tech, and digital operations, she’s uniquely positioned to tackle the challenges facing this growing industry.
In this episode, we’ll explore the common causes of EV charger failures, the role data plays in predictive maintenance, the impact of new regulations like the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) standards, and how ChargerHelp! is creating pathways into the clean energy economy for workers from all walks of life.
If you've ever wondered how reliability translates to the EV world, or how technology and workforce innovation go hand in hand, you won’t want to miss this conversation.
Chapters:
00:00:00 Revolutionizing EV Charger Reliability with Charger Help
00:02:14 Meet Camille Terry, Entrepreneur and Innovator
00:04:15 Starting ChargerHelp: A Journey from EV Connect to Entrepreneurship
00:06:16 The Impact of Pollution on EV Adoption
00:08:37 Understanding Reliability as a Service Model
00:10:35 Benefits of Reliability as a Service Model
00:12:40 Optimizing Asset Performance with Data Insights
00:14:56 Common Causes of EV Charger Failures
00:16:50 Reducing Mean Time to Repair in Software
00:18:47 Evolution of Memory Cost and Data Collection
00:21:06 Challenges in EV Charger Reliability and Failures
00:23:28 Emerging Leaders in European EV Infrastructure
00:25:37 Workforce Development in EV Infrastructure
00:27:42 Impact of California's EV Charging Reliability Act
00:29:20 Tesla Charging Stations: Leading Reliability Standards
00:31:42 Automotive Firmware Failures: Responsibility and Transparency
00:34:32 Planning for Robust System Configurations
00:36:33 Future Trends in the EV Charging Industry
00:37:36 The Rise of Charger and Smart Engineering
00:39:26 The Rise of Slate EV and Building Great Electric Vehicles
00:41:25 Human Connection in Technology
00:43:24 Importance of Profitability in Business Strategy
00:45:20 The Role of Cash in Business Operations
00:47:26 Conclusion and Podcast Schedule
Thursday Jul 17, 2025
Thursday Jul 17, 2025
On this episode of PCB Chat, David Schild of the Printed Circuit Board Association of America and Mike Buetow discuss the current legislative environment for supporting the PCB industry.
We discuss the organization's latest annual meeting, the changing political environment, competition with China, and potential incentives.
Also covered:
- The expanding ecosystem supporting a federal industry policy
- Potential tax credits for manufacturing boards onshore
- Avoiding single points of failure in the supply chain
- A change in tactics but not goals for garnering federal support for the electronics industry
- Congressional visits to domestic manufacturers
- The pursuit of skilled labor
Tuesday Jul 15, 2025
Tuesday Jul 15, 2025
Wally Rhines, spokesperson for the ESD Alliance, joins Mike Buetow to discuss the first quarter electronic design automation market results.
The good news: sales of PCB/MCM design software were up 5.5% to $399.8 million for the quarter, the 17th straight period of growth. Strength in Asia-Pacific offset slower results in some other regions. The four-quarter moving average for PCB and MCM rose 8.9%.
The Americas, the largest reporting region by revenue, procured almost $2.21 billion of electronic system design products and services in Q1 2025, a 14% increase.
Listen to the podcast for more data and analysis, including thoughts on tariffs.
Thursday Jul 10, 2025
Thursday Jul 10, 2025
Today we're diving into a topic that keeps many executives awake at night—ERP implementations. More specifically, why so many of them fail and, perhaps more importantly, how to fix them midstream before they derail your operations.
Joining Mike Konrad is someone who knows this space inside and out—Chintan Sutaria. Sutaria grew up working in an EMS business from a young age, gaining firsthand experience in the unique challenges of our industry. His career path took him into the world of business process consulting at some of the largest Big 5 firms, and he has since worked with numerous EMS companies on a wide range of projects.
Many may recognize Sutaria as the founder and former CEO of CalcuQuote, a well-known supply chain management software company for the EMS industry. Recently, he founded, OpenJar, a consultancy dedicated to helping electronics manufacturers navigate complex business challenges—including ERP implementations.
We’ll discuss his new company as well as his recent blog post, "Why Your ERP Implementation Failed (and How to Fix It Midstream)", explore common pitfalls, and uncover strategies to steer your ERP project back on course.
Chapters:
00:00:00 Common Failures in ERP Implementations and How to Fix Them
00:02:20 Transitioning from Calcot to Open Jar
00:04:07 Embracing Innovative Ideas with Open Jar Philosophy
00:07:47 Why Your ERP Implementation Failed and How to Fix It
00:08:06 The Challenges of SAP and ERP Implementations
00:10:00 The Importance of Second Opinions in ERP Implementations
00:12:05 Common Misconceptions in ERP Implementation
00:13:57 Navigating the Learning Curve in New Systems
00:15:53 Key Criteria for Successful Project Implementation
00:17:42 Identifying Unique Strengths in EMS Companies
00:19:39 Challenges in Change Management for EMS Software
00:21:47 Early Warning Signs of a Failing ERP System
00:23:34 Navigating ERP Implementation Challenges
00:25:40 Keeping Cool Under Pressure: A Guide to Effective Problem Solving
00:27:32 Importance of ERP Functionality Prioritization
00:29:33 Navigating ERP Implementation Changes
00:31:56 Balancing Efficiency with Employee Discomfort in ERP Systems
00:33:22 Importance of Structured Approach in Consulting
00:35:29 Challenges in Software Implementation
00:37:40 The Challenges of Implementing Systems in Small Businesses
00:39:47 Challenges of Scaling a Business with Automation
00:41:55 Essential Strategies for Successful ERP Implementation
00:43:55 Insights with Serial Entrepreneur Chintan Sataria
00:45:56 Podcast Updates and Listener Engagement
Tuesday Jul 08, 2025
Tuesday Jul 08, 2025
Cofactr is a supply chain execution platform that includes source-to-pay and 3PL solutions for electronics hardware developers.
Live from the show floor at PCB East in May, cofounder Phil Gulley and VP of marketing Libby Melton join Matt Leary, Geoffrey Hazelett and Mike Buetow to discuss the company's procurement process tools and software integrations.
Thursday Jun 26, 2025
Thursday Jun 26, 2025
Today we're turning our attention to a cornerstone of modern electronics manufacturing: pick-and-place technology.
Joining Mike Konrad is Tim Kang, CEO of Hanwha Semitech Americas. With nearly two decades of experience in the electronics manufacturing space — starting as a mechanical engineer and now leading one of the top pick and place equipment providers — Kang brings a wealth of insight into what it takes to build reliable assemblies.
In this episode, we’re covering best practices for selecting the most appropriate pick and place machine, how to get the most out of your equipment, and the common mistakes that can compromise productivity and long-term reliability.
Thursday Jun 26, 2025
Thursday Jun 26, 2025
On this episode of the Reliability Matters podcast, Mike Konrad left his usual studio for the IPC Apex Expo trade show.
He interviews two subject matter experts on topics related to electronics assembly.
The guests are:
- Gerald Gardner, global product manager at Weller, a manufacturer of hand soldering equipment fume extraction systems, and precision tools.
- Mike Young – CEO OF SASinno Americas, a manufacturer of wave and selective soldering equipment.
Thursday Jun 26, 2025
Thursday Jun 26, 2025
Mike Konrad interviews three subject matter experts on various topics related to electronics assembly.
The guests are:
- Greg Beck, director of sales at Absolute EMS, a contract manufacturer.
- Brian Watson, cofounder of HyRel Technologies, a global provider of quickturn semiconductor modification solutions.
- Keith Sweatman, technical advisor at Nihon Superior, a manufacturer of soldering materials