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22 PCB007 MAGAZINE I DECEMBER 2023 'Blocking and Tackling' During Tough Economic Times ere never seems to be an easy time to work in the electronics industr y. Supply chain challenges are prevalent and never seem to be solved, finding talent has been a chal- lenge for 30 years, and constant pressure on margins means a business leader can never sit still as regulations and tariff rules change on a regular basis. Not to mention just trying to manage the nor- mal day-to-day challenges of finding new busi- ness and keeping current customers happy, then add an unpredictable economic climate, and the worry of a possible recession. No won- der many industry leaders are in a tailspin. As IPC Chief Economist Shawn DuBravac shared with me, "We are about a month away from a recession, and I'll tell you the same thing next month—until it happens." In speak- ing with industry executives, I have heard some exclaim, "I wish we would just have the recession already, so we can get on with deal- ing with it and then moving past it." How are industry leaders handling all this stress? Here are a few blocking and tack- ling efforts that I have seen industry leaders undertake: • ey take care of their people. ese are your greatest asset. We cannot expect that the One World, One Industry Feature Column by Dr. John W. Mitchell, IPC