IPC International Community magazine an association member publication
Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1544975
MAY 2026 I I-CONNECT007 MAGAZINE 53 ics, many will never require the highest-end materi- als or designs that drive today's supply constraints. Should manufacturers shift their focus entirely? Will lower-margin segments face chronic short- ages? Will prices for everyday goods rise to untenable levels that the market cannot easily absorb? Will we see many manufacturers shut down once again? These questions are the logical extension of a system already under strain. AI may be the in- dustry's greatest opportunity in decades, but it is exposing the limits of the systems that support it. Final Thoughts: The AI Era Will Not Be Evenly Felt Just as Apple and its contemporaries reshaped global manufacturing decades ago, AI is doing it faster, and with more immediate consequences. This transformation is already revealing strain within the systems that support it, particularly across materials, manufacturing capacity, and global supply chains. More than just growth, we see a reallocation of resources, priorities, and ultimately, of opportunity. However, that reallocation will not be evenly felt. Some segments will expand rapidly, while others may struggle to maintain footing. Some companies will successfully adapt, while others may be forced to rethink their place in the market. I anticipate another busy era of mergers and acquisitions, and some companies will even close their doors. Entire portions of the supply chain will likely be reshaped in ways we do not yet fully understand. We may see a rebalancing of global production and economic influence as regions and companies adapt to shifting priorities and domestic incentives to bring manufacturing closer to home. But even in the best-case scenario, the transition will not be smooth or evenly distributed. AI may well become the most transformative force our industry and our world has ever experi- enced, but it will not be painless. How much dis- ruption can the system absorb, and who will bear the weight of that change when it does? These answers are just beginning to emerge, and they won't be for the faint of heart. I-CONNECT007 References 1. "PCB in AI Server – Global Market Share and Ranking, Overall Sales and Demand Forecast 2025-2031," QY Research. 2. "Copper-clad Laminate Market Size & Share Analysis – Growth Trends and Forecast (2026- 2031), Mordor Intelligence. 3. "Printed Circuit Board Market Size & Share Analysis – Growth Trends and Forecast (2026-2031), Mordor Intelligence.