IPC International Community magazine an association member publication
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IPC COMMUNITY 8 WINTER 2025 On the Cusp of Change COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS L ast fall, I attended elec- tronica in Munich and thor- oughly enjoyed being sur- rounded by industry profes- sionals worldwide. We exchanged insights on the challenges facing our vast global industry. During our discussions, several key trends emerged: market dynamics, sus- tainability, geopolitics, and the increasing role of artificial intel- ligence (AI) in manufacturing. It became clear that the production and utilization of electronics are undergoing a fundamental trans- formation, leading us toward an exciting journey ahead. What does this mean for us in 2025? For IPC, it's essential to be present wherever the industry is, which means taking a global approach to solving regional prob- lems. You'll see more of us in local events and your facilities through- out Europe, Asia, India, Mexico, and the United States because we rec- ognize the value of meeting people on their home turf. Sustainability will take center stage this year as the need to pro- tect our environment changes how we design, manufacture, and use products. This is reflected in IPC's Sustainability Initiative, which focuses on solutions using global standards, workforce training, certification and validation pro- grams, industry intelligence, and advocacy to help solve these challenges. We will continue to address workforce issues, expanding on our commitment to offering reg- istered apprenticeship programs throughout the U.S. and looking to extend similar programs to other countries. Our training, education, and certification efforts will con- tinue to seek long-term growth by fostering a skilled, adaptable, and motivated workforce. AI, already a significant player, will continue to enhance our work- force, help us gain efficiencies, improve our workflows, and assist in necessary data collection for running our businesses. Working closely with mem- ber companies, we will actively engage in government policy advocacy, focusing on key topics such as advanced packaging, inno- vation, sustainability, and a skilled workforce. We will continue to seek solu- tions to the toughest challenges facing our industry while also focusing on the local concerns that face our global membership. We will be the common element that connects us all, building a larger community that focuses on the most critical challenges and opportunities facing your part of the world today and tomorrow. While this overview only touches on some of the issues, challenges, and topics we will face in 2025, the electronics industry is vast. It impacts every aspect of our lives, and that can feel overwhelming. However, there is a through-line holding all these disparate parts together: IPC, your global electronics association. You can expect to see more of us in 2025 in regional locations world- wide. I look forward to see- ing you and saying hello. By Dr. John W. Mitchell, IPC President and CEO IPC COMMUNITY 8 WINTER 2025 Laying out our priorities for 2025