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Revolutionizing PCB Production Through MES, Partnerships, and Vision by B a r r y M a t t i es , I - C o n n e ct 0 07 24 PCB007 MAGAZINE I AUGUST 2025 T wo years ago, we visited Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) to better under- stand its new captive greenfield PCB facility. We recently returned, this time to discuss how this bold vision has transformed the industry. Barry Matties met with John Hendrickson, engineering direc- tor, and Jessi Hall, vice president of vertical integration, to discuss the transformative capabilities of Factory Core, SEL's custom man- ufacturing execution system (MES), which allows for real-time moni- toring of workflow and machine performance, and has led to impressive improvements in quality and cost efficiency. This interview profiles several of SEL's amazing supplier partners and outlines a living, breathing example of the most critical PCB processes, equipment, and business methodologies for printed circuit board manufacturers today. Barry Matties: John and Jessi, it is great to talk with you. I'd like to start by talking about how you manage your workflow through the factory. John Hendrickson: We run everything through Factory Core, our internally developed MES. You can see a whole-factory view on our big monitors; click any work area and you'll see current work in progress (WIP), completed units, machine status, and more in real time. Why was building your own platform smarter than buying an off-the-shelf package? Hendrickson: It's part of our stra- tegic plan. About six or seven years ago, we started Factory Core in one of our other plants, knowing we could leverage the existing foundation and tailor it S E L S P O T L I G H T