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40 SMT007 MAGAZINE I NOVEMBER 2025 F E AT U R E A RT I C L E by Lo re n a V i l l a n u eva , Global Electronics Association México T echnological revolutions aren't only measured in gigabytes, robots, or PCBs. They're also measured in people. In Guanajuato, the most stra- tegic resource being built is not machinery, but tal- ent. At the center of this transformation is Salomón Ceballos, general director of the State Training Insti- tute (IECA). What makes IECA unique isn't just its facilities, it's its approach. Unlike most training institutes under the Education Department, IECA is part of Guanajuato's Ministry of Economy, and that changes everything. "We don't focus on long academic programs that quickly become outdated," Ceballos says. "We lis- ten directly to the industry and build custom pro- grams tailored to length, format, and subject matter." IECA has built a network of more than 980 instructors and works closely with companies like Michelin, American Axle, and Fabromex. Many of these companies have their own classrooms inside IECA campuses. That level of integration allows for real-time problem-solving and rapid responsiveness. A Talent Pool That's Ready to Compete and Win As new investments pour in due to the nearshoring boom, companies expect one thing: trained, certified talent from day one. "Companies don't come asking if we're ready," he says. "They arrive assuming we are. They expect to see skilled people already certified." That's where IECA's partnership with the Global Electronics Associ- ation comes in, helping certify stu- dents and instructors alike in IPC standards. "This takes us to another level," he adds. The Heart of the Electronics Industry Beats in Guanajuato Salomón Ceballos