Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1437606
76 PCB007 MAGAZINE I DECEMBER 2021 somebody a deadline, collect the data, and then we would get back together at the next face- to-face meeting and review it. Now, we're assigning the action item, meeting to review where we are with the action items, and then meeting again for dis- cussion when someone submits that work. e committees are working very well in this format, and we're seeing a lot of interna- tional participation with people who wouldn't typically even be able to travel to APEX EXPO. ese are good changes. Johnson: It sounds like part of the dynamic is shorter and quicker iterations through the steps of the process? Rowe: It's shorter as in we see comments roll- ing in faster, but is the process itself shorter? We're still following all those required steps and we're still sticking to our timeframes that were established during our project identifi- cation and TAEC review of our new proposed projects. But we are seeing people reacting and moving at a different rate through that activ- ity, rather than, "Let's focus on a face-to-face effort and then do my own thing and I'll see you again in six months." Now it's, "I have a meeting next month. What can I do by then to at least tell everybody I'm still engaged and focused on this project?" Johnson: Do you see these changes in the pro- cess becoming a standard part of the commit- tee work? Rowe: I think it has become part of the stan- dards committee work. People enjoy remain- ing active in standards development. It takes unique personalities sometimes to work these projects and people want to be involved, they want to be engaged and they want to stay with their group as they're work- ing the projects. Yes, this has changed the process, but we will continue to use the face-to-face meetings because there's noth- ing to substitute for that human interaction. Johnson: And yet now there's a whole new dimension of inter- action. What are some of the key things that the standards committees are working on? Rowe: Right now, we are working on new revi- sions of a few documents, including IPC/ WHMA-A-620, IPC-J-STD-001, IPC-A-610, and IPC-A-600620—those documents that people know, love, and use frequently—and that's an ongoing, continuing process. We are working on some new things in the environ- mental area; cleaning, coating, and materials continues to roll along as well as some of our design standards. We're not just focused on one thing, but we are working with all our commit- tees on the projects that they are focused on, they want, and they expect for industry. Johnson: Earlier, you mentioned increased international participation. I'm concluding that because the committees are using more teleconference interaction, that opens the opportunity for greater international partici- pation. How is that changing what you see on committee work? Rowe: In our case, many of our calls are on Teams. ose calls are attracting people who want to be involved in standards development, but who cannot participate because they can't travel for health reasons, company policies, or they can't be away from the office that long. Teams meetings have allowed us to have par- ticipation, especially new voices and new ideas in the task groups. at's a good thing and we welcome that. Teresa Rowe