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8 PCB007 MAGAZINE I DECEMBER 2025 M A RCY ' S M U S I N G S Automate to Elevate by M a rcy La R o nt , I- C o n n ect0 07 Automation is a persistent theme in modern electronics manufacturing leading to more effi- ciency and higher quality more consistently. How- ever, from the U.S. manufacturer's perspective, automation has historically been synonymous with significant capital expenditures. I first recall hearing the term in relation to the automobile manufacturing industry. In my younger days, I became familiar with the GM plant in Fre- mont, California, which was renamed the New United Motors Manufacturing, Inc. (NUMMI) plant after a joint venture with Toyota in the early 1980s. That was the first time the term automation made sense to me, and even in grammar school, it was clear that building cars would be difficult to do any other way. It has been over 50 years since the merits of automation were first debated, and we are see- ing a greater openness to what the technology can offer for companies of all sizes, along with a more balanced view of the real costs of manufac- turing products. AI and machine learning (ML) have expanded automation beyond robotics and assem- bly lines, making it more accessible to a wider audience. ROI timelines are shrinking as the cost of not implementing automation, i.e., the quality and yield fallout that could have been avoided, is increasing to unsustainable levels. Our lead feature article this month is from Syd- ney Xiao, president of Global Electronics Associ- ation East Asia, who discusses AI and ML in the PCB fabrication space. She highlights the benefits and the steps necessary to advance the industry along this journey. Next, my interview with Henger Microelectronics delves into an AI-focused and highly engineered plasma etching and cleaning system. And KLA offers perspective on the value of automation in reducing process steps, increas- ing quality, and reducing material consumption through their spotlight of the Orbotech NEO inkjet solder mask machine and process. From our columnists, Don Ball takes us back to the early days of automation and how it's evolved over the years, while Happy Holden breaks down the necessary steps for starting a smart factory. Complementing that push toward smarter, more automated operations, Shane Whiteside of PCBAA reminds us that rebuilding a trusted U.S. electron- ics supply chain—and the policy support to scale it—is essential if we want automation to strengthen manufacturing here at home. Beyond automation, Steve Williams does a bril- liant job in his latest column, in light of the recent U.S. government shutdown, of comparing the lead- ership styles of past notorious figures to the politi- cal power plays of today's politicians. It's a unique