Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1514628
22 PCB007 MAGAZINE I JANUARY 2024 times, despite the best intentions, miscom- munication and mistakes occur. I know I've made the occasional error. ere are gener- ally two responses when this happens: scream and shout, point fingers and threaten to sue; or swallow your anger and frustration, then say, "Let's work together to identify and fix the problem and worry about assessing the blame later." I've been on the receiving end of both responses, and I don't think I have to tell you for which customer I am more willing to go the extra mile. PCB007 Don Ball is a process engineer at Chemcut. To read past columns or contact Ball, click here. line clean had not been hooked up. e cus- tomer had not been mixing the alkaline cleaner solution properly but got away with it in the old system because the rinse aer the alkaline clean became slightly acidic from being sup- plied by water from the acid rinse. is neu- tralized the alkaline chemistry on the surface of the board as it came out of the alkaline cleaner before it could mar the board's surface. e pump was hooked up correctly and production was underway quickly. A factory acceptance test would likely have picked this up and saved everyone much time and aggravation. e moral is that even when you think you have good communication and trust between both parties, it never hurts to double-check. As former U.S. president Ronald Reagan oen advised, "Trust but verify." One final thought (that should put us in good stead through all walks of life) is that some- I-Connect007 columnist George Milad passed away on Dec. 7, 2023, at the age of 81. George was well-known in the PCB industry for his technical expertise in physical organic chemistry. He was employed as a national accounts manager at Uyemura International Corporation, was the author of the chapters on plating and surface finishing in Printed Circuit Handbook: Seventh Edition, and had a series of publications on electro- lytic plating and metallic surface finishes. He was the recipient of the 2009 IPC President's Award, chaired the IPC Plat- ing Committee for many years, and was a member of the IPC Technical Activities Executive Committee. George was known as a lifelong learner. Born in Egypt, George immigrated to the United States in 1970. According to his obituary, "His view of life was a compilation of his continuous search for truth, his own experiences, and most impor- tantly his shared experiences with those he loved and admired. He believed that our duty on this earth is to leave a legacy of compassion and service, and was proud to say that his legacy is in good hands with his children and grandchildren." On LinkedIn, Uyemura posted this sentiment from Tony Revier, senior strategic advisor and president emeritus: "George Milad was an industry icon. His embracing nature, commitment to excellence, and unique ability to engage others earned him great admiration and universal respect. We feel the loss of this treasured member of the UIC family." Condolences offered on Uyemura's LinkedIn page remembered George as "my favorite competitor," "kind, soft spo- ken, and a true gentleman," "a loss to the industry," "a prolific author," "an intelligent friend" and "great mentor." Teresa Rowe, senior director, standards and practices, said: "George participated in IPC standards development projects with passion and the spirit of volunteerism. Never one to shy away from helping his industry, he also volunteered in recent years to be an Emerging Engineer Mentor. We will miss him." George's I-Connect007 column is titled "The Plat- ing Forum," and his contributions were greatly appre- ciated and widely read. Search his past columns here. Both on a personal and professional level, George Milad will be missed. I-Connect007 Columnist George Milad Passes Away