Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1424540
38 SMT007 MAGAZINE I NOVEMBER 2021 off, been adopted, and is creating positiveness on the EMS side of things, in the automation arena. Vendors seem to be jumping into it and putting it on their machines. You're seeing this integration with machines talking to each oth- er to make them better and more intelligent. Johnson: Because there is so much data, is that data ultimately useful to you and your role as an independent third party? Can you make use of that data? Neves: Not really. As third-party testers, we're risk reduction people. e testing we do to IPC standards and the company standards is to show that the company has done its due diligence to limit liability. ey're not look- ing to us to dive into attributes of the process. ey're looking to us for help in quantifying a product's expected reliability. e CFX stan- dard is assisting manufacturers with gathering all this data about process, process improve- ment, process control, and consistency. Johnson: Can you envision a future where your test results actually feed back into that digital twin? Neves: Oh, they do, if they're designed to do so. But, most of what we do is compliance. It's a barrier to getting your product accept- ed. It's a requirement, like filing taxes. I would say that's probably 80% of what I do. e oth- er 20% is interesting because I have people come to me and say, "Okay, I want to find what material is right. I want to find what process- es are right. I want to look at product design or look at the design of microvias and see which stackup works better. ose are the interesting things for me to do, and that makes up 20% of my business. ose investigations go back into the process—how the board is designed, or how it's manufac- tured. Johnson: For the 20% that's doing R&D-orient- ed testing, is that population of the industry growing, shrinking, or does it seem to be stay- ing pretty stable? Neves: It's pretty stable. I think it's usually driv- en by need. Somebody needs something new or a new customer comes along. It's people who identify a problem or have a severe issue, and they really want to come back and resolve it. People aren't being proactive about doing testing. Again, it's just a cost center. ere's no way to provide direct, tangible improve- ment, whereas with investment in automation or anything else, you can do the math. You can say, "If I spend this, that will save you here." When times are lean and people have to cut costs, my business goes up as internal cost cen- ters are downsized and services like mine are used instead. Johnson: What advice do you have for the con- tract manufacturers regarding getting more out of testing and inspection? Neves: If I had to say anything that would be of value, it's that the current situation is requiring you to change your supply base. Do things you wouldn't normally do, take some time, and un- Bob Neves