PCB Chat

RM 148: IPC Apex Special (Part 3 of 3)

This episode of Reliability Matters features three interviews including:

• Kimberly Fagan from PVA
• Taylor Wagan from CETEC ERP
• Neil Hubble from Akrometrix

Recorded live in Anaheim, CA, during IPC Apex Expo.

PCB Chat 133: Wally Rhines on the PCB Design Software Market

Wally Rhines returns to give the latest data and analysis on the printed circuit board and MCM design software market, and the broader electronic design automation market.

Rhines comments on the quarterly data released by the ESD Alliance, shifts in demand from India and China, seasonal buying trends, employment and more.

This episode is sponsored by PCB Way, celebrating its 10th anniversary as a leading supplier in electronics manufacturing, known for high-quality PCB prototypes and assembly services.

PCB Chat 132: David Schild of the Printed Circuit Board Association of America

The CHIPS Act has hogged much of the oxygen in the tech industry for the past few years, but the industry trade group known as the Printed Circuit Board Association of America is trying to build on that momentum by relentlessly pointing out that the board industry needs love too, or as they put it, chips don't float. With us today is David Schild, the executive director of the PCBAA.

Schild and Mike Buetow discuss the prospects of pending Congressional legislation to support the US PCB industry, the need for domestic substrate and bare board production to complete the triad of the semiconductor "stack," and a just-announced Commerce Department plan to allocate up to $1.6 billion in funding to support the packaging supply chain. 

RM 146: IPC Apex Special: Soldering and Inspection

Recorded live during IPC Apex Expo this spring, this is the first of three podcasts from the show floor.

This episode features three interviews including:
• Gus Mavrou from Seho
• Mark Stansfield from Solderstar
• Jesper Lykke from Viscom

RM 145: Designing Electronics to be Reliable in Harsh Environments

The challenging world of electronics becomes even more challenging when the end product is destined for harsh environments. For high-reliability products operating in a harsh environment, the quest for reliability is not just a goal—it's an imperative. These are not your everyday gadgets; often they're critical components of systems designed to operate under extreme conditions, where failure is not an option. From the scorching heat of desert landscapes to the unyielding cold of arctic tundra, from the high-pressure depths of our oceans to the radiation-filled expanse of space, the demands on these electronic products are as varied as the environments themselves.

 

While ocean depths, outer space, and frozen tundra are arguably harsh environments, we don’t have to look too far for examples of product failures in less harsh environments. One example that comes to mind is the state of public EV charging stations. Government reports have concluded that up to 25% of public EV chargers are at any given time. While there are many reasons for this, one may conclude they are not designed and manufactured for the intended in climactic operating environment.

 

On this episode, we'll uncover the numerous challenges that designers and engineers face in their quest for reliability, durability, and functionality of the final product. As we navigate through this complex landscape, we'll highlight the strategies that enable these products to not just survive but excel in unforgiving conditions.

 

Our navigator for this episode is, Dr. Andre Kleyner. Dr. Kleyner has 30 years of engineering, research, consulting, and managerial experience specializing in reliability of electronic and mechanical systems designed to operate in severe environments. He received a doctorate in mechanical engineering from the University of Maryland, and a master's of business administration from Ball State University. Dr. Kleyner is a Global Reliability Engineering Leader with Delphi Electronics & Safety and an adjunct professor at Purdue University. He is a Fellow of the American Society for Quality (ASQ), a Certified Reliability Engineer, Certified Quality Engineer, and a Six Sigma Black Belt. He also holds several US and foreign patents and authored multiple professional publications including two books on the topics of reliability, statistics, warranty management, and lifecycle cost analysis.

PCB Chat 131: Sergiy Nesterenko on AI-Driven PCB Design

"Humans just aren't the greatest at designing circuit boards." That's according to Sergiy Nesterenko.

Nesterenko is founder and CEO of a new software company called Quilter, whose goal is to accelerate hardware development by fully automating circuit board design. His eureka moment came when an early design at a previous employer couldn't be autorouted, then after it was hand-routed and built, it caught on fire.

Listen to why the former Space X engineer thinks the margins designers build in are excessive and how AI-driven, physics-based platform can resolve and even violate some "human" rules and still generate superior printed circuit boards.  

RM 143: A Candid Conversation with Doug Pauls

We’ve discussed the silver tsunami on the show numerous times, the unprecedented rate of which employees are retiring. When engineers and other employees retire from companies, they take with them more than a set of gold cufflinks or an engraved plaque. In many cases, they also take with them wisdom and knowledge.

Perhaps this is never truer than in the case of Mike Konrad's guest today. And who is that? Doug Pauls.

Pauls holds a B.A. in chemistry and physics from Carthage College, and a B.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He worked nine years for the Navy, eight years as technical director of Contamination Studies Labs, and more than 20 years at Rockwell Collins (now Collins Aerospace), in the Advanced Operations Engineering group where he is a technical fellow and, a principal materials and process engineer. He was awarded the Rockwell Collins Arthur A. Collins Engineer of the Year Award in 2004 as well as numerous other awards.

Paul is a longtime (well over 30 years) IPC chairman and was awarded the IPC’s Hall of Fame Award in 2017. Most notably, he is known for his expertise in surface insulation resistance testing, cleaning and cleanliness assessment, conformal coatings, and how to investigate and qualify manufacturing processes. He has been a U.S. representative to ISO and IEC working groups on SIR, electromigration, and cleanliness reliability standards. He has participated in numerous national and international consortia on electronics manufacturing materials and processes. He recently led a team of SMEs to redefine the cleanliness provisions of J-STD-001, culminating in what is presently J-STD-001H.

To take liberties with a famous Mark Twain quote “rumors of my retirement have been greatly exaggerated”. For several years now, I’ve heard rumors of Pauls' retirement. Well, that day has finally come. 

Konrad talks with Pauls about his long career within the electronics assembly industry: his triumphs and challenges, and his journey in this ever-changing, dynamic, and challenging industry.

If you’re new to this industry, stick around listen to Doug's advice to young people entering our world, the world of electronics assembly.

 

00:00:00 - Introduction to Doug Pauls' Career in the Electronic Assembly Industry

00:02:57 - Reliability Matters Podcast Introduction

00:06:04 - Sharing wisdom with early career individuals

00:09:34 - Hobbies Outside of Work

00:12:44 - The Minions and World Domination

00:16:23 - Overcoming Shyness through Theater and Public Speaking Lessons

00:19:41 - Lessons Learned from Skilled Trades People

00:23:03 - Working in the Department of the Navy

00:26:21 - Learning from Asking Questions and Trying New Things

00:29:38 - Learning from the Old Guys

00:33:05 - Participating in Standards Development

00:36:32 - The Power of Networking and Technical Committees

00:40:01 - The Value of Leadership Skills in Collaborative Industries

00:43:15 - Collaboration in the Electronics Industry

00:46:18 - Developing Valuable Skills in Problem-Solving

00:49:39 - Transitioning to Rockwell Collins

00:52:59 - The Four Pillars of Career Advancement at Collins Aerospace

00:56:32 - Finding Resources for Personal Growth

01:00:01 - Industry Updates and Resources

01:03:26 - The Value of Old Guy Stories

01:06:46 - The Importance of Understanding How Things are Made

01:10:08 - Retirement Plans, Consulting, and the Future

01:13:10 - An Unconventional Industry Presentation

01:15:59 - Thank You for Listening to the Reliability Matters Podcast

 

 

PCB Chat 130: Audrey McGuckin on Developing Leadership Skills

Businesses are not immune to the many complex social situations present on many prominent college campuses today. Executives and managers must grasp with how best to understand the changing environment as part of their talent acquisition and talent building processes, and implement those methods in practical ways to accommodate today's employees' life cycle. 

Audrey McGuckin is a global HR executive who for more than 25 years has lived and worked across the globe in Asia, Europe and the US.

She spent more than 20 years at Jabil, rising to vice president and chief talent officer. Today, as head CEO of The McGuckin Group, McGuckin consults with top CEOs and CHROs to solve complex business challenges through innovative talent and people solutions. Her client base includes a broad spectrum ranging from startups to Fortune 100 organizations.

She shares her thoughts and approach to business leadership, team building, managing employee movements and needs, and the power of empathy with PCB Chat host Mike Buetow.

RM 142: Live from SMTA's Pan Pacific Strategic Electronics Symposium (PanPac)

This episode was recorded at SMTA's Pan Pacific Strategic Electronics Symposium on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Mike Konrad's guests on this episode are Dr. Chuck Bauer, founder of PanPac, Keith Bryant, and Dr. Ron Lasky. We discussed the history of PanPac, technologies introduced at PanPac, and what makes PanPac so unique. We also discuss Dartmouth College's unique engineering innovations program.

 

Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to the Reliability Matters Podcast
00:01:35 - Introduction: Dr. Chuck Bower and Keith Bryant
00:03:23 - The Motivation Behind Starting IMAPS and SMTA
00:05:16 - Global Participation in the Event
00:07:25 - High Level Participants and Learning Experience
00:09:23 - The Conference of Interesting Things
00:11:01 - Speaking to the Thought Leaders of the Industry
00:12:40 - Preconceived Notions about the Event
00:14:26 - The Best Event for Networking and Fundamental Research
00:16:05 - Networking at Conferences
00:17:42 - The Advantage of Combining Innovation and Engineering
00:19:17 - Fostering Entrepreneurship among Students
00:20:57 - The Future of Young People
00:22:34 - Challenging Stereotypes about the New Generation
00:24:03 - Advice for Emerging Engineers and Technicians
00:27:17 - The Benefits of a Liberal Arts Education in Engineering
00:28:48 - Bringing Students to the Conference for Experience
00:30:11 - Entrepreneurship and Thinking Outside the Box
00:31:46 - The Value of Thinking like an Entrepreneur
00:33:22 - The Advantages of Ignorance in Starting a Business
00:34:51 - Throw caution to the wind and pursue your passions
00:36:25 - Appreciation and Thanks
00:37:49 - Stay Safe, Stay Happy, Stay Healthy

RM 141: Component Tape Splicing Best Practices

Optimization has become an important goal within the electronics assembly industry. While modern electronics assembly techniques utilize a variety of equipment, one specific type of equipment often consumes a disproportionate percentage of the overall equipment budget, that is the place machine. The cost of the machine, associated conveyors and feeders, require that the machine is running as often as possible.

The airline industry refers to this as “wheels up” time. Airlines make money when the aircraft is in the air “wheels up.” On the other hand, anytime the wheels are down, the aircraft is not making money for the airline.

I listened to an interview a few years ago with the CEO of Southwest Airlines, a US discount carrier. Unlike most other airlines, Southwest does not charge its customers to check bags. The CEO was asked by the reporter why they have not joined the rest of the industry in charging for checked bags. The CEO's answer was genius. If Southwest Airlines began charging for check bags, it would actually slow the boarding process as more and more passengers would drag their bags onto the aircraft, most likely resulting in a number of those bags having to be checked at the gate. 

Southwest Airlines is famous for having the fastest aircraft gate turns in the industry, frequently under 30 minutes. Yet, if Southwest Airlines charged for checked baggage, it would require more time at the gate before the next flight would be ready to depart. That would result in fewer flight segments per aircraft per day. In other words, allowing customers to check bags for free equates to more “wheels up” time and, subsequently, more profit for the airline.

The same principal can apply to pick-and place machines. When pick-and-place machines are running product, they are making presumably making money. When they sit idle, they are arguably costing money. What can assemblers do to improve the optimization or “wheels up” time on their pick-and-place machines?

Mike Konrad's guest, Larry Welk, believes he has an answer. Welk, a.k.a. Professor Splice, is coowner of Smart Splice, a manufacturer of tape splicing tools.

Welk reviews tape splicing best practices and explain how tape splicing, when performed correctly, can lead to higher pick-and-place machine optimization.

So, buckle your seatbelt: this podcast episode is officially wheels up!

Chapters:
00:00:00 - The Importance of Optimization in Electronic Assembly
00:02:34 - Tape Splicing: Best Practices
00:05:12 - Tape Splicing and its Advantages in the Industry
00:07:42 - Continuous Tape Splicing
00:10:10 - Splicing Techniques in Machine Assembly
00:12:31 - Ensuring Quality and Reliability of Tape Splices
00:14:57 - The importance of alignment in splicing
00:17:21 - Types of Tapes and Their Impact on Splicing
00:19:54 - Challenges with Tape Splicing
00:22:09 - Adjusting Feeder Tension
00:24:25 - Splicing and Reel Management in the Industry
00:26:46 - Splicing Parts in the Electronics Industry
00:29:02 - Common Mistakes in Tape Splicing
00:31:34 - Issues with Tape Splicing
00:34:03 - The Crimping Tool and Tape Issues
00:36:25 - The Importance of Switching Techniques
00:38:53 - Improving Production Efficiency through Component Evaluation
00:41:44 - A demonstration of the old tape splicing method
00:44:08 - Splicing Tape Procedure Comparison
00:46:38 - Faster Splicing Technique
00:49:15 - The Negative Experiences with Splicing
00:51:55 - The Benefits of Splicing
00:54:22 - Transitioning from Technician to Salesman
00:56:40 - Conclusion and Farewell