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F E AT U R E I N T E RV I E W 40 SMT007 MAGAZINE I SEPTEMBER 2026 W I T H B L AC K F OX T R A I N I N G I N ST I T U T E Latin America's electronics manufacturing ecosystem is at a pivotal moment. As global supply chains are reconfigured, the region has an extraor- dinary opportunity to capture more value, but only if manufacturers can meet increasingly stringent operational and quality demands. We contacted Blackfox General Manager Joel Sainz to discuss the human side of these demands. Skills training, as offered by Blackfox, is a critical part of meeting these increasingly complex demands. What is driving the current growth opportunity for electronics manufacturing in Latin America? Joel Sainz: Nearshoring and the need for more resil- ient supply chains have positioned the region as a preferred partner for North American and European markets. Geographic proximity and compatible time zones, particularly with the United States, can reduce logistical transit times from weeks to just days. Which market sectors offer the greatest potential? Several fast-growing sectors are creating demand for more sophisticated electronics manufacturing capabilities in Mexico: • Automotive electronics and electric mobility: Mexico invested heavily in the shift to electric and connected vehicles • Medical devices and telecommunications: Countries with established manufacturing clusters, including Mexico, Costa Rica, and Brazil, are attracting significant investment in products ranging from PCBs to high-precision medical equipment Why is compliance with international quality standards so critical? It's quite clear that failure to meet standards such as ISO 9001, IPC-A-610, and IATF 16949 for automotive production can have immediate and far-reaching consequences. What are the most serious consequences of non-compliance? There is a correlation between compliance and quality. The risks of non-compliance extend well beyond a single defective batch. Electronics suppliers operate within continuous audit chains. A serious quality failure can lead to removal from global approved vendor lists. Should a defective compo- The Human Side of Latin American Electronics