Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1367446
16 SMT007 MAGAZINE I MAY 2021 we are encouraging our Emerging Engineers to step forward and take that on. We also see their mentors encouraging them. Some men- tors even come to us and say, "I have a great emerging engineer. Here are the qualifications. Do you have any leadership roles?" Johnson: Let's pivot and talk about advocacy. How is that different? Rowe: e advocacy groups are discussing global government relations and environmen- tal awareness where the other groups are dis- cussing technical topics in electronics manu- facturing. Johnson: What sort of job function or back- ground fits there? It's easy to think of stan- dards work as being a place where you're get- ting people with a technical background and technical interests. But when you start talking about advocacy, is there a different skill set that you need there? Rowe: It's still someone technical, someone interested in engaging with the industry on those topics, networking, and making recom- mendations. Johnson: Having an interest, though, in a more outward-facing conversation for the industry. Rowe: Yes. Outward conversation. Although, you can also look at it and say the standard is an outward-looking conversation as well with industry, right? Johnson: at's a valid point, absolutely. Where do you see the highest visibility committees right now, on the whole? ey're all impor- tant, but when you have that many commit- tees, some of them are going to be in a place where they just have a spotlight on them for some reason. Who do you see? Rowe: Interesting question. e hot topics include Factory of the Future, e-textiles, printed electronics, and CFX, the Connected Factory Exchange. If you're talking about the number of people who show up at a commit- tee, those are traditionally the printed board and assembly activities. ese are the task groups for IPC-A-600, IPC-6012, J-STD-001, IPC-A-610, and IPC-A-620. We see a lot of people come to committee meetings, not just to participate in standards development, but also to learn. Johnson: As a participant in a committee, does a person have some level of competitive advan- tage due to the fact that they're involved in put- ting together the content for a standard or a protocol? Rowe: We make certain our meetings are open and fair for everyone in attendance. Does a company participating in standards develop- ment have a competitive edge? at really is a decision a company has to make. It would be unfair to say a company gains a competitive edge by participating in standards development, but it does give someone an opportunity to see how criteria are developed, to understand the opposing opinions, and to see the data that's presented around a require- ment. Johnson: at stands to reason, and while some- body who's participating in a committee for a new standard could be in a place where they We see a lot of people come to committee meetings, not just to participate in standards development, but also to learn.