Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1544155
8 SMT007 MAGAZINE I APRIL 2026 Wire harness shops have been overlooked when it comes to software or automation tools be- cause they haven't been profitable enough for the innovative software folks. But that seems to be changing, and as it does, so do the business operations at a wire harness shop. When smart quoting software can give wire harness shops a 5x increase in quoting pace, it allows for quoting riskier jobs, winning more business, and bootstrapping the company into larger scales. Other tools that automate the shop floor help increase disciplined replication even as production throughput increases. This means that a shop has more latitude to try something new and risk failure if there's a lesson or skill to be learned from the experience. To address this issue, we hosted a round table with members of the Innovation Advisory Team of the Wire Harness Manufacturer's Association (WHMA) to discuss how wire harnesses are mov- ing into the digital twin era. Two key software suppliers are delivering on the team's vision: Cableteque specializes in automating job quoting, and Zuken brings its CAD tool expertise to wire harness design. We pivot the conversation from supplier to customer, featuring an article by tech writer Joanne Harris, who speaks at length with Steve Pilipchuk about his frontline challenges and solutions in the wire harness business. Lorena Vil- lanueva, senior director of the Global Electronics Association's Mexico operations, posts a dispatch from a recent wire harness working session in N O L A N 'S N OT ES Las Vegas, where even the moderating styles are changing to meet the times. This month's columnists include Jennie Hwang, who continues her series on AI, Brian Buyea talks about thermal management, and Josh Casper takes us on a journey of a component through an SMT factory. We also include some photos from the recently concluded APEX EXPO, and I'm work- ing on APEX EXPO reporting for the May issue of SMT007 Magazine as well. Still not convinced wire harnesses are a critical part of the overall system? Check out this article 1 where Ford CEO Jim Farley recounts a critical les- son he learned from a Tesla teardown, discovering the Ford Mustang Mach-E wire harnesses used 1.5 kilometers more copper wire than the Tesla Model 3, adding weight and cost to the Mustang. Keep this in mind as you read the opening round table. SMT007 References 1. "Ford Learns Tough EV Lessons from Tesla and China," by Georgia Collins, Manufacturing Digital, Nov. 17. 2025. Nolan Johnson is managing editor of SMT007 Magazine. Nolan brings 30 years of career experience focused almost entirely on electronics design and manufacturing. To contact Johnson, click here.