Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1486199
DECEMBER 2022 I SMT007 MAGAZINE 57 quality and reliability are challenged by require- ments focusing on time to market. Meanwhile, specifications from design to test struggle to keep up. To further challenge the industry, EVs are part of a large rapidly developing ecosystem of charging stations that now require up to 97% uptime performance, and battery energy stor- age systems that require more than 20+ years of reliability, each with its own unique standards for design and test. Co-chairs for the Technical Program Com- mittee special sessions are Brian O'Leary, global head of e-mobility and infrastructure at Indium, and Jason Schwartz, business devel- opment manager at KYZEN. "e first part of the agenda will address the problems and chal- lenges, with the second part addressing the solutions," says O'Leary. "Our speakers will share a macro perspective about supply chain issues; a policy perspective about new gov- ernment regulations and incentives; and a few technical perspectives from Tier 1, Tier 2, and OEMs." e e-Mobility session is supported by IPC's e-Mobility Quality and Reliability Advisory Council and closely aligns with the council's mission to help deliver e-Mobility quality, reli- ability, and safety while protecting the drive for innovation. IPC, in the first-of-its-kind event at IPC APEX EXPO's e-Mobility/EV Automo- tive Special Session, will bring together stake- holders from OEMs, their supply chains, reg- ulators, and policy and technology experts to discuss the many challenges as well as the col- laborative-based solutions to those challenges. e e-Mobility/EV Automotive session is a three-hour panel discussion with audience par- ticipation encouraged. Registration for this Jan. 26 session will be included in the "All Access" or "Full Technical Conference" packages, or it can also be added as a "Technical Conference Single Session Pass." SMT007 Julia Gumminger is manager of professional devel- opment and events for IPC. Masks As of March 1, 2022, the state of California no longer requires masks, therefore masks will not be required while attending IPC APEX EXPO 2023. Proof of Vaccination or Negative COVID Test On April 1, 2022, the state of California lifted its requirement for vaccine verification or proof of negative test, therefore neither proof of vaccination status nor negative test will be required to attend IPC APEX EXPO 2023. For Those Traveling From Outside the U.S. Negative COVID Test The CDC order requiring all persons to show a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before boarding a flight to the United States is rescinded, effective on June 12, 2022, at 12:01 a.m. ET. This means that starting at 12:01 a.m. ET on June 12, 2022, U.S. citizen air passengers and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) will no longer need to get tested and show a negative COVID-19 test result, nor show documentation of recovery from COVID-19, prior to boarding a flight to the United States. Proof of Vaccination The CDC's order requiring proof of vaccina- tion for non-U.S. citizen non-immigrants to travel to the United States is still in effect. A booster dose is not needed to meet this requirement. Above Guidelines as of November 2022 Please check the IPC APEX EXPO website at: www.ipcapexexpo.org/covid-19-information for the most current information or visit wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/. by IPC Staff