Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1533085
facturers, especially EMS providers, love that because when designs match our PCB sup- plier's capability standards and our assembly line standards, we all make money by saving money. However, due to the advanced design constraints, references were occasionally made to the importance of checking supplier capability. ere are sectors of product development in our industry where our specifications have not caught up to what PCB design engineers are being asked to achieve. e concept of "work- ing with a supplier" to develop custom require- ments needed to solve advanced packaging design—design for nanoscale or harsh envi- ronments—was explained by emphasizing that going outside of IPC Class 3 scope of design and manufacturing standards is extremely costly but oen required for our aerospace and other new or emerging industries. Designing vs. Inventing Now, back to my boss's com- ments about what was missing at the show. Chad said, "PCB design- ers need to know the difference between designing and inventing." From his perspective as an entre- preneur and inventor, the show floor was filled with machinery and services, available to anyone who wants to use them to design things. ey offer a current snap- shot of standardized capabilities. However, Chad believes that the show could be better served by providing a forum for the inven- tor—someone who must beat their competition, oen through dis- ruptive engineering—to reach the machine and process stakeholders to scream for what they need. IPC APEX EXPO should be a place where we further expand electronics service, equipment, and material suppliers (who are already there to sell current capability) and hear from inventors and entrepreneurs regard- ing their perspectives on what is missing in materials and manufacturing so their current ideas and inventions can be realized. My boss described two types of customers: • e first brings us very manufacturable data and documentation that can be inter- preted by our process stakeholders and can be easily quoted, procured, assembled, tested, and shipped without issues. ese customers employ PCB designers who col- laborate with all stakeholders. • Another type brings us data and docu- mentation that has been awkwardly used to prototype some very brilliant product ideas but, like the advanced technology examples brought up in the Professional Development classes, are full of capabil- ity mismatches for our standard, low-cost, high-volume suppliers. 46 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I MARCH 2025