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20 PCB007 MAGAZINE I APRIL 2020 we need on a day-to-day basis. The "factory of the future" is just down the road from us and operating at full speed today. This not only shows how far we have come in terms of human well-being and technology but also demonstrates our ability to adapt and strive for normalcy as we cope with these uncer- tain times. This convergence between infor- mation technology and operational technol- ogy is paving the way for this next industrial revolution. Standards Throughout this experience, common com- munication is necessary for telework to be effective, meaning the language and network among team members, like standards and industry credentials. These provide a com- mon understanding of what needs to take place for manufacturing and products to be developed correctly. Machines need to talk to machines, just like people need to talk to people, for operations to run smoothly. The products that we rely on every day— such as computers, telephones, and cars— could not have been made without common communication, standards, and the sharing of information, which continue to grow and expand. Telework Lastly, as we evolve through these uncer- tain times, our workforce will need to adapt to become generalists. We already see this trend among the younger generation as they become well-versed in science, technolo- gy, engineering, and math (STEM), coupled with good communication abilities. As a workforce, we are emerging as a generation that understands STEM initiatives and so- cializes remotely, which allows people to be flexible as new situations and opportunities arise. As people transition to telework, message team members on Zoom or Microsoft Teams, and perhaps even operate a part of a factory from their home, I'm optimistic about what our future will hold. We're surrounded by and pinged with messages saying that facilities are shutting down, but we are more ready to ad- just and adapt than we think. While the spread of COVID-19 seems inevi- table, automation, technology, and communi- cation have come a long way and will speed our response to the needs of the future. In the next decade, when smart factories are fully implemented across industries, we will lever- age digital twins and artificial intelligence to achieve virtual engineering and operation en- hancement, allowing us to be more resilient in the future. As we navigate the waters of this pandemic, I'm confident the framework we have laid will help push us through and show us what we've learned about our resilience—not only of our global industry and each country but also of ourselves. PCB007 References 1. S. Segal & D. Gerstel, "The Global Economic Impacts of COVID-19," CSIS, March 10, 2020. 2. IPC, "The Impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Epi- demic on Electronics Manufacturers: March Update," March 2020. Dr. John Mitchell is president and CEO of IPC. To read past columns or contact him, click here. These facilities are using robotics, 3D printing, and machine learning to deliver the products we need on a day-to-day basis.