Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1540984
14 SMT007 MAGAZINE I NOVEMBER 2025 • Transparent compliance in trade, labor, and sustainability • A credible talent pipeline that withstands turnover and growth Mexico's most competitive plants deliver by mak- ing standards a daily practice (not just a certificate on the wall), training continuously, and digitizing what matters. The results show that the cost targets are met without sacrific- ing risk posture or responsiveness. Latin America on the Radar Other Latin American countries are also advanc- ing. Costa Rica is attracting semiconductor investment; Brazil and Colombia are expanding electronics manufacturing; Argentina and Uruguay are growing in digital and clean tech sectors. But structural challenges remain that only deeper integration, investment, and cooperation can overcome. In this landscape, Mexico already stands as the operational hub of a smarter, closer, more resilient electronics supply chain. Collaboration in Action: Real Cases We're Working On Our Mexico office lives the essence of the electron- ics triple helix—government, academia, and indus- try—aligned in standards, learning, and digital manu- facturing to scale talent at the speed of investment. • Guanajuato, talent as strategy: In partnership with the state and IECA, industry is building a pipeline in PCB design, safety, ESD/FOD, component ID, and electronic assembly accept- ability—creating a repeatable flow that acceler- ates ramp-up and stabilizes performance. • Queretaro, aerospace rigor at automotive scale: With UNAM's High Tech Unit and ICATEQ, courses link to real plant problems, giving students a ladder from basics to advanced certifications—resulting in fewer defects and better inspections. • Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua, border- speed centers of excellence. With CIITA-IPN and local industry, border innovation means faster line launches, real-time changes, and quality loops closed in hours, not weeks. • Aguascalientes, design and semiconductors in motion: A new alliance with government and universities aligns design, semiconduc- tors, and digital manufacturing—gap mapping and upskilling pilots are underway. • Jalisco (IDEFT), immediate talent: Pilots in ESD, safety, FOD, and acceptability, plus instruc- tor development and the Open House/IPC Conecta agenda, a scalable model for Guada- lajara's corridor, "Latin America's Silicon Valley." Conclusion: Designing the Next Decade, Together Electronics is the nervous system of the modern economy. As the world regionalizes to manage risk and speed, Mexico isn't a backup plan; it's a design decision. Proximity, policy, and people converge to deliver what global customers demand: reliable qual- ity, rapid response, and transparent compliance, powered by a workforce fluent in IPC standards. Through alliances with governments, universi- ties, and companies across the country, the Global Electronics Association is helping build a repeatable architecture for the next decade of growth, from elec- tric mobility and aerospace to smart factories. The world is being reconfigured. Mexico is ready. SMT007 References 1. Figure based on UN Comtrade, following the methodology of the "Interconnected" study. The total (~$150 billion) combines imports of components and finished electronics, not just HS Chapter 85 (which covers most of the electrical and electronics sector). Lorena Villanueva is director of Global Electronics Association Mexico Lorena V illanueva