Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1392944
66 PCB007 MAGAZINE I JULY 2021 hour. Really? My neighborhood McDonald's is offering $15–$16 per hour plus other entice- ments. Amazon is offering $22–$25 per hour plus benefits. No wonder the PWB fabrica- tors can't find reliable employees. ere's also a lack of government support for the PWB in- dustry. ey only see semiconductors as sexy, not recognizing that without a reliable board, the chips have nowhere to go. Q: What do you anticipate for the next two years? Carano: Without an awakening of our elected officials, the PWB footprint in North America will erode. e bigger firms (TTM, FTG, Sum- mit Interconnect, Advanced Circuits) will find distressed fabs and acquire them as they have been doing. Q: Dan Feinberg points out that price increases for the seller are cost increases for the buyer. Is this a good time to optimize processes to mini- mize your price increases? Carano: I am a firm believer in process optimi- zation, enhanced troubleshooting skills, use of statistical tools, training, and engineering. One should not wait to "optimize" processes. Opti- mization requires focus, commitment, and in- vestment. ings as simple as automating the analytical procedures for the processes, train- ing and certifications through IPC Training Programs (much of the training modules can be taken online and on demand through the IPC Edge portal). Yes, most of the fabricators and assembly firms are not taking advantage of these offerings. Why? So much can be learned. Knowledge is power. Q: How do folks down the chain from you mit- igate the risk? Carano: If possible, strike deals for material/ chemistry supply with contracts. Also, lock in technical service from the supplier; howev- er, that means paying a premium. e fabrica- tors, instead of trying to beat down your price, should select the chemical material supplier on several other criteria: • Innovation track record • On-site tech support • Being a partner with the supplier— to ensure steady flow of new ideas, best practices, analytical services Q: Is this situation driving new product? Or is this situation causing a scaling back of product development? Carano: We don't scale back product develop- ment; most of our competitors don't either. We continue to invest. at is the only way to help fabricators jump the technology curve. However, the fabricators need to change their way of thinking. We need to push the envelope a bit and invest in new technology and train- ing/certifications. Process control, in many in- stances, is lacking or sub-standard. PCB007 Michael Carano is VP of technology and business development for RBP Chemical Technology. To read past columns or contact Carano, click here. They only see semi- conductors as sexy, not recognizing that without a reliable board, the chips have nowhere to go.