Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1401769
76 PCB007 MAGAZINE I AUGUST 2021 designing boards in accordance with IPC de- sign standards, which will be available later this year. e IPC Design Competition, scheduled for IPC APEX EXPO 2022, will test the design ap- titude of professional designers from around the world. e preliminary heat will consist of a full board build-up: starting with a schematic, some mechanical/packaging constraints, and a pre-defined component library, competitors will be required to complete a design task in accordance with relevant IPC standards, cul- minating in a standard-compliant documen- tation package and IPC-2581 file. Finalists are chosen from this round and invited to APEX EXPO 2022. e in-person event will consist of a very low-complexity board (blinky-board or similar) with predefined stackup and com- ponent library; the best layout wins! Also, at IPC APEX EXPO 2022, IPC Design will host a "Day of DFX" with panels covering topics such as designing for manufacturing, testability, assembly, and much more. IPC provides educational opportunities in design, whether you or your team need an in- troductory course or advanced design knowl- edge. Designing for smaller, more complex, and more robust electronics devices requires creative thinking and extensive theoretical and applied knowledge. To meet these challeng- es, IPC Design courses were developed to help designers across different sectors of the indus- try acquire and sharpen skills required to de- sign and manufacture innovative products that ensure organizational profitability. Currently, IPC offers two introductory, two intermedi- ate, and five advanced design courses. In addition to design courses, we offer the IPC Designer Certification program at IPC-li- censed training centers worldwide. Both certi- fications, one basic and one advanced, provide objective evaluation of core competencies in PCB design, providing instruction in how to transform an electrical circuit description into a PCB design that can be manufactured, as- sembled, and tested. IPC courses are taught by industry veterans who provide intensive training for learners to deliver effective and reliable design to custom- ers. Information on IPC Design courses and certification can be found by visiting ipc.org. We hope you'll participate in all the oppor- tunities offered through IPC Design. As al- ways, please reach out to me with any ques- tions or comments. I look forward to hearing from you. PCB007 Dr. John Mitchell is president and CEO of IPC. To read past columns or contact him, click here.