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REAL TIME WITH... IPC APEX EXPO 2019 SHOW & TELL MAGAZINE I I-CONNECT007 145 In this video interview, Judy Warner and IPC VP of Global Government Relations Chris Mitchell discuss initia- tives such as IPC Workforce Champions, the skills gap analysis, and how they plan to advocate for the indus- try and grow the supply chain in North American and around the world. 2 Sector-specific Initiatives Paved the Way for New Innovation In a sign of how critically important electron- ics are in supporting the growth and innovation of other industries, IPC APEX EXPO 2019 was the venue for a well-attended executive forum on the future of automotive electronics, a separate "buzz session" on e-textiles, and standards com- mittee meetings related to both. As the automo- tive and textile industries integrate electronics into their products in increasingly creative ways, they will rely on partners like IPC to establish the necessary standards to ensure high reliabil- ity and performance. Contact Sanjay Huprikar, IPC VP of solutions, to learn more about our work with the automotive industry, and Chris Jorgensen, director of technology transfer, about our work with the textile industry. 3 IPC-1791 QML Program Is Poised for Significant Growth Also at IPC APEX EXPO 2019, the U.S. Depart- ment of Defense's (DoD's) Executive Agent for Printed Circuit Boards hosted its annual meet- ing. IPC Director of Validation Services Randy Cherry was on hand to update participants on the development of IPC-1791—Trusted Elec- tronic Designer, Fabricator and Assembler Requirements—and its associated qualified manufacturers list (QML) program. The IPC- 1791 standard and QML program aim to estab- lish a trusted supplier program focused around the design, fabrication, and assembly of PCBs. The existing standard will get its first revision this month, and seven companies are now par- ticipating in the beta test audits. As the DoD seeks to strengthen the security and reliability of its supply chain, the IPC-1791 standard and QML program will serve as a model for DoD- industry collaboration. To get involved, con- tact Randy Cherry.