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46 SMT007 MAGAZINE I JULY 2025 This is exactly the kind of content being explored at the SMTA High-Reliability Cleaning and Coating Conference in Dallas this August. If you're serious about reliability, this is a conference worth attending. Final Thoughts: Reliability Is a Process Electronic failures rarely happen at the point of manufacture. They happen later, on a snowy run- way, in a hot enclosure, or after 10,000 operating cycles. They happen when a shortcut taken today turns into a field return tomorrow. Cleaning and conformal coating are not just pro- duction steps. They are reliability strategies. When done correctly, and together, they provide insur- ance against the unseen, the unexpected, and the unavoidable. T H E K N OW L E D G E BAS E The industry is evolving. So are the contami- nants. So is the demand for data-driven cleanliness and protection. The question is, are we evolving with it? SMT007 More information on the SMTA High-Reliability Cleaning and Coating Conference is available here: smta.org/cleaning Mike Konrad is founder and CEO of Aqueous Technologies, and vice president of communica- tions for SMTA. To read past columns, click here. On June 23, 2025, following a major announcement, IPC embraced the rapid advancement of technology with a bold decision to change its name to the Global Electronics Association. This name more accurately reflects the full breadth of its work and the modern realities of electronics manufacturing. In this exclusive interview, President and CEO Dr. John W. Mitchell shares the story behind the re- brand: Why now, what it means for the indus- try, and how it aligns with the organization's mission. The new Glob- al Electronics Associ- ation, he says, has an unwavering commit- ment to its members. "This is about doing more on behalf of the industry and really leaning into what's happening." Marcy LaRont: John, it's great to talk to you as al- ways. This is an exciting time for our industry and for IPC. The announcement has just been made that IPC has changed its name to the Global Electronics As- sociation. IPC was founded in 1957. In that time, the electronics manufacturing industry has changed so much. It sometimes feels like another universe. It seems the name reflects that. But John, what is the why behind this important shift and what all went into making this important decision? John Mitchell: Thanks Marcy. Thanks for hav- ing me as well. As you say, the world has changed so much in the last seven decades. Even the shift in electronics or technology over the last just one decade has changed so much. And so, IPC has changed and grown to serve our members over this nearly seven decades. I feel like the new name, Global Electronics As- sociation, really reflects the work we do among all of the industry sub-sectors today. It's not just about boards. It's not just about one subsector. You really need an entire system to be effective. It's OEMs and primes. It's the semiconductor sub - sector, it's the EMS sub-sector, the harness sub- sector, the PCB subsector, the material subsector, the equipment subsector—all these folks are mem- bers of IPC and now members of the Global Elec- tronics Association. Listen to the full interview here. IPC Rebrands as Global Electronics Association: Interview With Dr. John W. Mitchell