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14 SMT007 MAGAZINE I JANUARY 2024 supply chains for key materials, such as lith- ium-hydroxide, can take anywhere from three to seven years. As demand rises, the multiple steps—ranging from developing alternate sup- ply sources and establishing strategic partner- ships to innovating new materials and battery technologies—should be the path forward to securing a stable supply chain. Is sodium-ion battery technology a viable alternative? Sodium is more abundant than lithium, less vulnerable to geopolitical chal- lenges, and brings a substantially lower cost— the price of sodium carbonate is $286/ton vs. battery-grade lithium carbonate at $20,494/ ton. Developing and deploying AI tools that man- age the supply chain in a timely way will alle- viate some of the bottlenecks. One viable task is a model that combines data with artificial intelligence to predict unconventional depos- its of rare earth and critical minerals. Semiconductor "chips" are another exam- ple. High computing chips (GPU, CPU, TPU) are not only figuratively hot in terms of mar- ket demands, but literally hot in terms of tem- perature. AI tools to facilitate chip design and subsequent packaging and PCB assembly to facilitate thermal management are expected to boost productivity and innovative products required by the continued advances in AI tech- nology and AI tools. AI can "reciprocally" help as an effective tool for chip design and chip manufacturing as well. Conclusion Securing reliable sources of materials and minerals may be challenging, but it's a must. It's a necessity to diversify sourcing routes for key materials and develop alternatives for industries that have become highly dependent on unsecured sources. New AI tools can facili- tate the required outcome. SMT007 References 1. U.S. Department of Energy. 2. "London Metal Exchange Wins Fight on Nickel," The Wall Street Journal, Nov. 30, 2023. 3. "Exxon Starts Drilling for Lithium," The Wall Street Journal, Nov. 14, 2023. Appearances Dr. Jennie Hwang will deliver a Professional Development Course, "Artificial Intelligence— Opportunities, Challenges & Possibilities," and "High Reliability Electronics for Harsh Environ- ments," April 7 and 8, respectively, at IPC APEX EXPO 2024. Dr. Jennie S. Hwang, an international business- woman, international speaker, and a business and technology advisor, is a pioneer and long-standing leader in SMT manufactur- ing since its inception, and in developing and implementing lead-free elec- tronics technology and manufacturing. She has served as chair of Artificial Intelligence- Justified Confidence for DoD Command and Con- trol study, chair of AI Committee of the National Academies, and Review Panels of NSF National AI Institutes. An International Hall of Famer (Women in Technology), she has been inducted into the National Academy of Engineering, named an R&D- Stars-to-Watch, and received the YWCA Achieve- ment Award. She has held senior executive posi- tions with Lockheed Martin Corp., and was CEO of International Electronic Materials Corp. She is cur- rently CEO of H-Technologies Group, providing business, technology, and manufacturing solutions. She has served as chair of the Laboratory Assessment Board, the DoD Army Research Lab- oratory Assessment Board, and the Assessment Board of Army Engineering Centers. She is on the board of Fortune-500 NYSE companies and civic and university boards, Commerce Depart- ment's Export Council, National Materials and Man- ufacturing Board, NIST Assessment Board, vari- ous national panels/committees, and international leadership positions. She is the author of 10 books (four as co-author) and 700+ technical/editorial publications. She is a speaker and author on trade, business, and edu- cation issues. Her formal education includes four academic degrees (Ph.D., M.S., M.A., B.S.), as well as Harvard Business School Executive Program and Columbia University Corporate Governance Program. To read previous columns, click here.