IPC International Community magazine an association member publication
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IPC COMMUNITY 6 SPRING 2024 Connecting With the Best and Brightest COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS The show floor. Keynote speakers. Recep- tions. Awards ceremonies. The best and brightest minds in electronics manufacturing. IPC APEX EXPO is one of my favorite events of the year. I enjoy attending the many receptions, meeting young and upcoming engineers at the Newcomers Reception, visiting with our many global colleagues at the International Recep- tion, and stopping by the Women in Electronics Reception to see many industry leaders, not to mention the exhibitors who showcase the new- est equipment available to us. IPC APEX EXPO offers many opportunities to learn from experts in the field and to discuss the subjects that are uppermost on our minds: sustainability, Factory of the Future, work- force, PCB fabrication and materials, advanced packaging, and design, to name just a few. This is the first time in 17 years that IPC APEX EXPO t a k e s p l a c e i n A n a - heim, California, and we are proud to host the inter national PCB sym- posium , the 16th Elec- tronic Circuits World Convention (ECWC16), with an expanded, global technical symposium featuring more than 70 presentations over nine technical tracks. The diversity of the industry makes us strong, and we see that in committee meetings that pro- vide insight into how our important standards are being revised and developed to include the rapid changes occurring in electronics manu- facturing and design. Talking to our cohort of Emerging Engineers and their mentors allows us to see the passing of the torch from one gen- eration to the next in real-time. The awards cer- emonies celebrate those committee members and emerging engineers, as we acknowledge their valuable work to build electronics better. Ke y n o te a d d re s s e s a re a n important part of IPC APEX EXPO, and an opening keynote from Paul Bailey, former principal concept technical director, Walt Disney Imagineering, will be fas- cinating. Paul developed the projection system used in Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run and directed the delivery of the attraction Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. He was also responsible for bringing the Astromech droids to life, earn- ing him the illustrious distinction of "R2-D2 expert." In my luncheon keynote on Wednesday, I dis- cuss the future of the human workforce and the role people will play in an increasingly AI-driven world. In his closing keynote on Thursday, Shawn DuBravac, IPC chief economist, provides insight into the next wave in electronics, and the trends reshaping the industry. IPC APEX EXPO is a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together. We are growing and expanding while becoming more tightly knit as the years go by. It's an exciting time to be in electronics, a wonderful time to be in sunny California, and a valuable opportunity to connect with the larger global electronics community. I hope to see you there, and I hope you'll seek me out and say hello. By Dr. John W. Mitchell, IPC President and CEO IPC COMMUNITY 6 SPRING 2024