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10 PCB007 MAGAZINE I DECEMBER 2025 F E AT U R E A RT I C L E Why AI/ML May Be the Next Big Step for PCB Fabs PCB manufacturing is approaching a piv- otal moment across the global elec- tronics supply chain. For decades, the industry grew by adding equipment, expanding capacity, and relying on the accumulated experience of sea- soned engineers. Today, the landscape is shaped by rising product complexity, increasingly sensitive material systems, tighter delivery expectations, and a worldwide shortage of technical talent. The tradi- tional model is nearing its limits. This is precisely why artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are entering the mainstream conversation—not as abstract concepts or futuris- tic visions, but as practical capabilities that address the most pressing challenges PCB fabs now face: predictability, stability, cross-process understand- ing, and the ability to manage complexity at a scale humans alone can no longer handle. Why PCB Fabs Are 'Needy' for AI/ML PCB fabrication is a long, interdependent chain of processes. Lamination affects drilling, drilling influ- ences plating, plating affects imaging, and so on. Small deviations cause ripples in ways that even experienced engineers may not fully anticipate. As product requirements rise, decision-making based solely on individual experience becomes increas- ingly fragile. At the same time, the industry faces a struc- tural shift: fewer young professionals are choosing factory careers, and knowledge is becoming more concentrated than ever and is becoming increas- ingly difficult to transfer. The result is a growing gap between what fabs need and what traditional engi- neering models can supply. AI and ML offer a new layer of capability. They can identify subtle trends, correlate variables across BY SY D N E Y X I AO, G LO BA L E L ECT RO N I C S AS S O C I AT I O N E AST AS I A