Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1527952
OCTOBER 2024 I PCB007 MAGAZINE 9 Marcy LaRont is the editor of PCB007 Magazine. Marcy started her career in PCBs in 1993 and brings a wide array of business experience and perspective to I-Connect007. To contact Marcy, click here. gies, where we invariably ask, "Must I, and if so, when?" e path is clearer with this technology than with others. But the overarching message is consistent with a greater theme throughout all of electronics manufacturing: Business-as- usual today will not necessarily look like busi- ness-as-usual in the ensuing decades. In this issue of PCB007 Magazine, we exam- ine alternate metallization methods, includ- ing MacDermid Alpha's graphite technology and Uyemura's RAIG technology. John John- son of American Standard Circuits discusses liquid metal ink as a process technology alter- native. Dyconex's Dr. Evelyne Parmentier explains sputtering technology and alterna- tive metal elements from the R&D standpoint. I've also included Mike Carano's comprehen- sive overview of direct metallization technol- ogy. (Stay tuned next month as the discussion continues with a looking-back-to-look-for- ward feature discussing the merits of tin nickel plating.) Also in this issue, Happy Holden and Don Ball talk about root cause analysis and fix- ing problems, an essential reality of any man- ufacturing business and something that must be carefully approached and executed. Jesse Ziomek talks about the new technology offer- ings at DIS for customers. Dan Feinberg intro- duces a new article series highlighting award recipients of the IPC Hall of Fame. TTM takes us through its new, state-of-the-art facility in Malaysia, and Shane Whiteside of PCBAA ele- vates the important issue of bringing manu- facturing back to the United States in a mean- ingful way, and what the CHIPS Act does and does not do for our part of the supply chain. So, grab a pumpkin spice latte, and let's get into the October issue. PCB007 by Tom Yang, CEE PCB I have spent a lot of time in the U.S., and one question I am frequently asked is about the differ- ences between the Chinese and U.S. PCB industries. It's always an interesting question, and I will try to answer it in this month's column. Certainly, the U.S. was the leader in PCB manu- facturing, including developing the processes and technology, which it taught to the Chinese in the late 1980s and '90s. As a result, China has become a force to be reckoned with in the global PCB market. Having been educated in America and now lead- ing a major PCB manufacturing company in China, I have a unique vantage point when it comes to comparing the two nations' approaches to PCB production. Cultural Differences and the Impact on PCB Manufacturing One of the most significant differences between PCB shops in the U.S. and China is their business culture and operations philosophy. America focuses more on innovation, quality, and technology. Ameri- can PCB manufacturers tend to prioritize high-tech products for sectors like aerospace, military, medical devices, and high-mix, low-volume production. In China, PCB manufacturing is characterized by large-scale production capabilities and cost effi- ciency. Chinese PCB shops are better at produc- ing high volumes of PCBs at lower costs, which has allowed them to corner most of the global market shares, especially in consumer electronics. This Chi- nese focus on scale and cost-effectiveness is driven by the massive Chinese domestic market and the global demand for affordable consumer electronics. Continue reading. Comparing and Contrasting the U.S. and China PCB Industries GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP