IPC International Community magazine an association member publication
Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1503860
IPC COMMUNITY 22 SUMMER 2023 Joe, what are the top three concerns facing the electronics industry? Risk mitigation in the global supply chain seems to be top of mind. The benefits of glo- balization were tested by the pandemic and further impacted by geopolitical challenges. Now, regionalization seems to be a focus for electronics manufacturing. Domestically, the strength and resilience of the electronics industrial base is a major con- cern. The CHIPS Act and other efforts to accel- erate domestic manufacturing capabilities and capacities, coupled with some reshoring and regionalization, may be the needed cat- alyst to reestablish a solid foundation across the entire value stream. I'm also concerned about access to the tal- ent pool from region to region. In some areas, there is an emerging demand for engineer- ing and technician-level operators; reskilling, upskilling, and training are needed to bring those from other industries into the electron- ics sector. In Silicon Valley, there are thou- sands of highly skilled operators at every level, and the level of competition for that talent is incredible. Attracting, retaining, and develop- ing career paths are major concerns. Industry executives often say workforce development is a major concern. What do they mean and why is it a problem? In the short term, there is a supply-and-de- mand gap. There are more jobs than qualified candidates to fill the roles. This limits growth, hurts profitability (more overtime), and cuts into capital available for investment, and research and development. While many challenges in the near term can be overcome, and impacts to the bottom line are manageable, they become untenable over the long term. If software, crypto, social media, and finance sectors are attracting the best and the brightest, then our industry will continue being both understaffed and under-talented. Yet this is a dynamic, fast-paced, challenging sector, and we need to attract the best and the brightest talent as well. We must showcase our exciting career options—advanced artifi- cial intelligence, machine learning, automa- tion-driven opportunities—which are trans- forming our industry at this very moment. How is IPCEF addressing this issue? How do we develop a pipeline of new talent? We are addressing the workforce develop- ment challenge in the electronics manufac- turing industry by focusing on three pillars: awareness, access, and connection. To increase awareness of the opportunities within the industry, the Foundation engages with schools, colleges, and universities to showcase career opportunities and highlight the importance of the industry. They also par- ticipate in industry events and conferences to reach a wider audience. To provide access to resources, content, and knowledge to develop that talent, the Foundation offers a range of educational pro- grams, including online courses, workshops, and training sessions. It also provides schol- arships and support for individuals pursuing careers in the industry. Finally, to connect the employee/employer and the talent with the opportunity, people, and companies, the Foundation facilitates networking events, career fairs, and men- torship programs. These initiatives bridge the gap between talent and the industry and