Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1531663
32 PCB007 MAGAZINE I JANUARY 2025 Workforce problems are almost as great an issue in PCB manufacturing today as the product quality and reliability of the increas- ingly complex circuit boards now in demand. I believe they are directly related. A quality work- force makes it easier to produce a quality prod- uct. Unfortunately, as an industry, we have not done a good job of attracting quality young peo- ple for today's production requirements. I'm not an expert in personnel management and don't have any simple solutions. However, throughout my career, I have visited hundreds of PCB shops around the world and have seen the good, the bad, and the really ugly. Here are my insights on what works and doesn't work to attract and keep a quality workforce. e first thing I notice during a visit to a PCB production facility is the working condi- tions in the production areas. Invariably, good shops are clean, well-lit and well-ventilated. Staff clean up spills immediately and wipe down equipment by the end of the day, if not more frequently. Conversely, the bad and ugly shops are almost always dank and dirty, with who knows what all over the floors, and the outsides of equipment encrusted with chem- icals. If you are a young person with salable skills, which shop would you prefer to accept Better Fabs Attract a Better Workforce The Chemical Connection Feature Column by Don Ball, CHEMCUT