Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1212069
REAL TIME WITH... IPC APEX EXPO 2020 SHOW & TELL MAGAZINE I I-CONNECT007 69 ing, we are responsible for technology devel- opment for industrialization. That means we provide our plants with the necessary technol- ogies to do the mass production of electronic control units. We wrote the process specifica- tion and selected materials like solder alloys, fluxes, etc. That's the department where I'm working, and I'm an interface to our internal customers, the business units in Bosch, which develop the hardware. Our business unit builds the hardware. In this context, I also came into the standardization business because there are many standards available that are relevant for electronic control units or electronic assem- blies in general. More or less from the beginning, when I joined Bosch, I got the task of taking care of the standardization activities. That was also the time when I met Dieter Bergman and had the pleasure of working with him for some time. We met a couple of times personally, so I knew him quite well. I'm very honored now to receive this reward. He was always dedicated to the standardization aspects of electronic assembly technology. He also focused on har- monization between different standards to make sure that there are no conflicts between them. That's how I got into the standardiza- tion business. Goldman: How long have you been involved with IPC as far as standardization and com- mittee work? Welzel: I've been involved since about 2013. Goldman: Since you're up for this award, and I know you've received past awards for your contributions, you must be very involved as a contributor. Plus, I know you're also involved with other organizations on standardization. I'm sure Bosch wants you involved, but what drives you to do it? Welzel: I see lots of benefits in our daily work. I spend 25–30% of my time on standardization. Standardization has become important for var- ious reasons. You can accelerate innovation, improve the quality of your product, and sim- plify discussions throughout the supply chain through standardization, thereby saving a lot of effort discussing the direction with your customers and suppliers. If you can say, "Let's work according to the accepted standards," it's something that everybody can agree on. That's why I'm dedicated. The other important aspect—and this is why I appreciate IPC—is you also have lots of con- tacts with experienced colleagues, and no mat- ter what question comes up, you always know someone you can discuss it with. Networking goes along the standardization, which I find to be a very important side aspect that cannot be overemphasized, particularly for young col- leagues. You can make useful contacts in these types of meetings, and they open up a lot of resources. That is an additional aspect. I have learned a lot through standardiza- tion. In the beginning, you may think, "Writ- ing standards is boring. It doesn't seem to be a very rewarding task," but don't forget about all the other advantages, such as networking and getting to know different colleagues, view- points, and business models. There's always a lot to learn in these meetings. Goldman: Yes, you learn so much when you're involved in it. Your opinion and data count for something. The standards aren't made in a vacuum. You and your colleagues had a signif- icant contribution to the standard and devel- oped it from the ground up. Welzel: It's very rewarding to develop a new standard. There are standards out there, like IPC's A-610 or the J-STD-001, that have evolved over a very long period of time. This is also reflected by the high quality of these docu- ments. If you start with a new document from scratch, like with our automotive addenda to 610 or 001, in the very first shot, you don't get that level of quality and consistency. In this process, you learn a lot about how to write standards as well as how the industry works and how different industries in the field of electronics assembly technology work. Goldman: And how they're related.