Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1058015
DECEMBER 2018 I SMT007 MAGAZINE 37 the craftsmanship embodied in this set of skills is recognized and admired. Being proclaimed the world's best at something is really a signif- icant achievement no matter what the skill is." "The people doing this work deserve respect. It's intricate work, especially as components keep getting smaller and smaller down to 01005s. We haven't put any of those compo- nents in the competition yet. We're down to 0402s, and we'll probably go smaller in the coming years as we make the competition a lit- tle more challenging every year." Roberson points out, "When a company can go to their customers and say 'Look, we have the world's best soldering technician on our staff and they'll be building your product', that can be a boost to the business. For exam- ple, a former winner of the U.S. competition has seen this title continue to help him in his career. Now he's an instructor for his employ- er." Even in the U.S., the cache of this compe- tition is still regarded with respect. Product development can depend upon hand soldering skills as well. Roberson states, "In many cases, prototypes simply aren't ready for prime-time production, requiring the pro- totypes to be assembled by hand. The expe- riences of the soldering technicians are also problem-solving feedback for the production process." The industry also benefits from these competitions in some unexpect- ed ways. Roberson mentions that a number of techniques submitted to IPC repair and rework committees have come from what contestants demonstrated during a competition. Sponsors (American Hakko Prod- ucts Inc. and Thales Dms France SAS) are providing the soldering sta- tions and inspection equipment. The competition is also partnering with Blackfox Training Institute and oth- ers to coordinate and supply certi- fied judges for the competition. Rob- erson points out that by sponsoring this competition, sponsor companies gain a forum in which to show the industry how their product performs in real-world use, "As opposed to that same equipment running a robotic demo pattern as they often do on the show floor," Roberson adds. Roberson also notes that we face a short- age of new, younger talent entering into these technical professions, calling it "the graying of the industry or the gray tsunami." He sees the competition and the STEM program as cru- cial to the industry: "We need these kids to get excited about manufacturing and soldering, and pick up the knowledge from the experts." As a result, the competition equipment on Thursday at the expo will be used as part of the STEM program, which is new this year. Local high schools will be invited to participate. Stu- dents can see some practical demonstrations, and then in teams of five, take over the sol- dering stations and get the chance to assemble some boards themselves. It's an opportunity for these students to get practical experience. "The products we work on are, in some cas- es, life-saving products; they're not just sitting off in a corner. People live longer lives because of what we do," Roberson concludes. For more information, or to sponsor the com- petition, visit the IPC Hand Soldering Compe- tition webpage or contact Alicia Balonek, IPC senior director of tradeshow and events. SMT007