Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1406534
86 SMT007 MAGAZINE I SEPTEMBER 2021 Interview by Nolan Johnson I-CONNECT007 Nolan Johnson speaks with Gary Walker, vice president and co-founder of Javad EMS, about who they are as a company, where they came from, and where they're going. Nolan Johnson: Hi, Gary. Would you introduce us to Javad EMS? Gary Walker: I started the business in 2010 with Javad Ashjaee, with whom I had become friends when I was working at SMTC, and he was a customer of mine. When I le SMTC to do consulting, Javad and I stayed friends. He was bouncing around among different CMs, struggling to find someone that could make his high-precision GPS products. It was a real challenge to find someone who had the tech- nical expertise and capabilities to build those products in the volumes and requirements that he needed at that time. It is a very demand- ing product and as such a very demanding ac- count. A Conversation With Javad EMS Aer many discussions, Javad and I decided to open an EMS facility. We thought that if we could build products for the sister GNSS com- pany, then we could more than meet the needs of other customers. We wanted to provide a different level of service and support than was traditionally being offered back in 2009 and 2010 by other CMs here in the Bay Area. e building and equipment were all bought and owned by the company with no outside financing. ere was that commitment right from the start. If we were going to provide a different level of service, the facility would re- flect that. We have an atrium feel in our lob- by, for example, as well as a large auditorium; we've just done things which make this facili- ty different than others. at doesn't necessar- ily translate to building a printed circuit board, but it reflects on us as a company, who we are, our level of professionalism, and how we want to be perceived. We want anyone who walks through the front door to feel that they were treated very well and view us as very professional. at in- cludes employees, customers, and suppliers. JEMS manufacturing facility, San Jose California.