Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1383248
12 PCB007 MAGAZINE I JUNE 2021 What is the future 'next thing' that will take us to new capabilities? We are finding ways to improve and use the latest technologies in our manufacturing facili- ties. e drive to modernize and transform fac- tories will lead to more innovation. ere are tremendous capabilities that are available today, but the challenge is that manufacturing is a capital-intensive business. You don't just toss away a half million-dollar piece of equipment because it is last year's model—like you might with a cellphone. Finding ways to leverage the best techniques and tools is the key to accelerating to the future. Once you have those, you next need people who know how to use them and who understand the fundamentals behind why they are performing the tasks they are in the larger manufacturing picture. How can global manufacturing companies continue to meet the challenges presented to them? e answer to this question varies with the time and the issues the industry in a particular region is facing. Over the past couple of years, my answers have centered around strengthen- ing your local/regional industrial base. If you have 100% reliance upon any other region—you are at risk. is doesn't mean you need to have every capability 100% sourced locally, but you do need to have options should relations break down. is also provides more local know-how, which is always a good thing. PCB007 Any additional questions not addressed here? Feel free to contact me at johnmitchell@ipc.org. Dr. John Mitchell is presi- dent and CEO of IPC. To read past columns or contact him, click here. What government impacts do you expect on the manufacturing industry? Every time there is a change in a major na- tion's government, this question comes up. In 2013, the question was about how Xi Jin- ping would change things now that he was in charge in China. Today, what changes can you expect under the Biden administration? ese are tricky ones to answer because, obviously, we are not in the inner circle of the administrations of any country. e best we can offer is based on prior actions and contin- ual inquiries to those who work with and influ- ence these leaders. If the latest actions are any indication, I expect the Biden administration to continue to attempt to invest in strength- ening the U.S. industrial base. Because of this, we at IPC are looking to make sure the elec- tronics manufacturing ecosystem is not lost in the glare of spotlight focused on the semicon- ductor industry. What can we do to solve our workforce issues? e world is changing rapidly, and no- where do we understand that better than in the electronics industry. e shortage of skilled workers has been an issue for a de- cade or more. IPC is assisting with this chal- lenge through our workforce education pro- grams. ese programs are designed by in- dustry experts and build in collaboration with organizations around the world. e IPC Education Team utilizes the latest educational techniques to ensure the maximum level of learning retention, while simultaneously reducing training times as much as pos- sible. ese programs help organizations address specific skill gaps in their existing workforce, upskill existing workers and, per- haps more importantly, provide a solid foun- dation for those who are not yet, but can rapidly become, a contributing part of the manufacturing workforce.