Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1355791
REAL TIME WITH... IPC APEX EXPO 2021 SHOW & TELL MAGAZINE I I-CONNECT007 31 constructive. And if you've got a problem with something, you need to have an answer before you critique it. Ford: I agree. As I said earlier, I'm a problem solver. I love to use soware to solve prob- lems, and you really can't solve a problem until you really understand what the problem is. If you simply aim to take the simplest gut- feeling work-around plan, it oen goes wrong, because the challenge is never as simple as you initially think. Everything is related, and there are likely to be a dozen different things that you have to understand in context in order to create a real solution. e pursuit of establish- ing "best practices" when creating solutions is very, very interesting. Once this is done the constructive discussion can begin. Goldman: I agree. Any closing thoughts for us? Ford: I could mention a whole string of names of people who have helped and supported me within IPC, the committees, and within Aegis. I'd just like to say thank you to everybody who has been part of this on-going process. I am just one person within the different teams, so it is a little humbling. It's great to know that I'm making a recognized contribution. I am grateful to be a part of the IPC process. Goldman: I think maybe you're the driving force, what do you think? Ford: I am not averse to being a little bit of a driver to help get people motivated. at can sometimes mean that you take the initial lead, or perhaps introduce thoughts that may be a little provocative. You have to have the right trigger to then allow people to express each of their opinions—which are the results that we see in the standards, from all of those people who have been part of that process. Goldman: We'll see you at the virtual IPC APEX EXPO. Well, l sort of see you. Ford: It's tricky, isn't it? In all these differ- ent events and meetings, you don't really see who's there sometimes; interactivity is a chal- lenge—to read the room for reactions. e vir- tual APEX EXPO event however is going to be tremendous, probably the highlight of the year, even being virtual as it is. I know a lot of people have been looking forward to this, more than other shows that I've participated in over the last 12 months. Goldman: at's good. I would think that all your committee meetings must have the maxi- mum number of people because anybody can come. All they need to do is turn on their com- puter to be part of it. Ford: e virtual aspect means that many more people, especially in Europe and Asia, will be joining, staying up in the middle of the night in some cases. at's really nice actually. Goldman: Because they can be there with mini- mum cost and effort which is really great. I think it's going to change the way commit- tees and subcommittees work from now on. You may still want to come to a meeting, but there could be more virtual stuff going on, say, between the main meetings or even during. ere's no reason why you can't be all sitting in a subcommittee meeting and have a lot of people check in virtually. It just makes good sense Ford: Yes, the hybrid meeting is an interesting idea. As long as the communications are work- ing well, then that is a huge value. Goldman: Okay Michael, congratulations again and thank you so much for your time. Ford: ank you. S&T