Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1504794
16 SMT007 MAGAZINE I AUGUST 2023 our missions, trying to verify the way the sys- tem performs, so we get data from maintainers and from the airplane. All that helps us deter- mine how can improve the performance and reliability of the aircra. Matties: What advice would you give PCB assemblers who are considering the digital twin? e bottom line is making sure they under- stand what capabilities they need to accom- plish. You don't do digital twin without first thinking about what you will do with it. Every digital twin should have a purpose and a set of capabilities associated with it. Create a cost- benefit analysis; don't do it just because it's there. I've seen automation pay off in quality, more so than anything else. Replacing people isn't our motivation, at least not in our busi- ness. We automate because we can get better quality with automation. Matties: We certainly appreciate you taking time out for this meeting, Don. ank you. SMT007 Don Kinard was recognized by the Manufactur- ing Leadership Council for Digital Engineering with the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award on June 28 at the 19th Annual Manufacturing Lead- ership Awards Gala, JW Marriott, Marco Island Beach Resort, Florida. When Don accepted the award, he was joined on stage by Mike Packer, retired vice president of production at Lockheed Martin and chair of the MLC Board of Directors, and Dan Dwight, CEO of the Cooley Group and vice chair of the MLC Board of Directors. Lifetime Achievement Award Presented to Don Kinard