Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1533085
42 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I MARCH 2025 Designing vs. Inventing Target Condition by Kelly Dack, CIT, CID+ After hearing me rave about IPC APEX EXPO for years, my boss, Chad Orebaugh, joined me at the show for the first time last year. We met at the registration counter, got our badges, and he said, "Okay, Kelly, impress me." For two days, we walked the show floor, attended committee meetings, professional development courses, and the EMS Leader- ship Summit (Chad is the executive VP of engi- neering for an EMS supplier). I was anxious to know his thoughts, but when I asked, his reply surprised me. He thought there was something missing. I was puzzled. What exactly was miss- ing? "is is where design begins," I told him. "is show provides a fantastic opportunity for PCB design engineers to get in touch with the capability of the machinery, materials, and processes." In a moment, I'll circle back to his response.