Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1391285
66 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I JULY 2021 those who take part in qualifying the materi- als and manufacturers who are responsible for checking out and making important decisions regarding the quality of the materials or pro- cesses offered. It could be valuable to under- stand how these industry stakeholders set up business relationships and roadmaps for mov- ing forward. All these folks—sometimes referred to as quality auditors—have something in common when they search for resources and providers: ey oen belong to or are associated with industry organizations and look for confor- mance to quality standards. Let's reflect on our own resource require- ments for a moment. As mentioned before, we may not be tasked in our day-to-day jobs to find sourcing for the next super-computer chip or specially formulated material to route its circuitry on. But regardless of our profes- sional part in the printed circuit engineering industry, we can benefit from using some of the same audit criteria to qualify a professional organization we choose to associate with. Quality auditors look for several important things when evaluating a new supplier with which to engage in successful, mutually ben- eficial, long-term business relationships. Let's think for a few moments about how some of these criteria can be applied to evaluating an industry trade organization. When searching for a trade organization to join, wouldn't you want to "audit" and check for some of the following? • A culture of operational compliance: Are their standards and operating procedures documented? Do they say what they do and do what they say? Do they provide open book operations with clearly defined stakeholders and areas of responsibility and traceability? • Social compliance: Are the management personnel or board of trustees well-known members of the community or relevant industry? Are they diversely represented? Are they transparent and communicative, free of any potential conflicts of interest? Are their business dealings and the mission of the organization clear and consistent? • Does the organization offer education and training for the goods they provide? If there is a charge, is it of justifiable value? • Can the organization readily provide documentation and explanation of its business ethics and value to the stakeholders it serves? Maybe you have some criteria of your own. It is important that the organizations you reach out to for information are responsive to your interests and respond quickly with details on how they not only can connect you with infor- mation which can help your career, but dem- onstrate ways you can become vested in the organization's membership. At the very least, a potential trade organization should be able to offer you a tangible description of what it stands for. Its purpose and mission must be aligned with your need for understanding and desire for engagement in order to engage in a successful, mutually beneficial, long-term relationship. Message from the Chairman by Stephen Chavez, MIT, CID+ Wow, it's hard to believe the year is half over and summer is in full swing. I live in Ari- zona; our monsoon season has started and we're feeling those triple digit tempera- tures. As these days/months are flying by, it just seems as if there is never enough time, and the never- ending workloads keep piling up. Don't even get me started on those "honey-do" lists. As PCEA evolves and grows, the original vision that has become our mission statement (Col- laborate, Educate, and Inspire) is ever more a reality. Personally, it is about making a positive difference in our industry by helping others to be successful and succeed in life. We do this by networking, sharing experiences both good Stephen Chavez