Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1500520
JUNE 2023 I SMT007 MAGAZINE 13 People are trying to keep data and information secure and yet you can't always do that. following "plan, do, check, act," and you're probably thinking continuously about what you make, why you make it, and how to do it better. Johnson: It seems that this is a multidisci- plinary challenge, with some parts that are very specific and others that are very general. The common theme, though, is the fundamental use of TQM as a way of break- ing down the challenge into actionable pieces. It's financially beneficial, because you're more profitable when you use fewer resources; when you're optimized and efficient, you are more sustainable. Engineers in electronics manufacturing are looking to existing technologies and, of course, newer technologies and innova- tions to help them make electronics better, whether that's through improved manufac- turing processes, a change in the product, or how that product is made. When it's done differ- ently, it's a different prod- uct. Reducing energy con- sumption, reducing water, changing the chemicals that go into these different processes to reduce waste, or create safer, non-haz- ardous, recyclable waste— all those things are hap- pening. Matties: What is driving this in the industry? Is it a requirement of government or something else? We have six or seven different drivers. e local community could be a driver. Your shareholders could be a driver. A bank or other financial investor might be a driver. It can be your government, whether it's local, national, or even global. For example, Ger- many has a supply chain law, and this law has ripple effects throughout the globe. If you're a supplier to Germany and you're in Vietnam, you will be affected. Matties: Like our industry-wide lead-free work was years ago. at's exactly right. We now have an explo- ration report we're working on and learn- ing from. We're also learning from a series of surveys and interviews. We just completed a European EMS Sustainability Survey and interview with about 15 different EMS compa- nies. at effort was qualitative, but it gives us a deeper dive. Matties: How does that security and data play into sustainability? Are the suppliers or the fabricators hesitant to share their information for fear of giving away their competitive advantage? at relates to the supply chain transparency issues regarding what data can and should be shared, and also when shar- ing that confidential busi- ness information becomes a problem. People are try- ing to keep data and infor- mation secure and yet you can't always do that. In this instance, it almost doesn't even matter that we're talking about sustain- ability as the topic. It comes down to data management which is a mechanism that can help you in all parts of your business. It is critical for being able to do the data collection and analysis to figure out how to be more sus- tainable, but it's also useful in other parts of your business. If you can collect data and move it with effi- ciency and accuracy, or the ability to collect accurate data, it doesn't matter what data you have. It could be on energy, water, people, or processes. e harder part is getting the infor- mation, a pathway for getting that information