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OCTOBER 2026 I SMT007 MAGAZINE 45 B R I D G I N G T H E PAC I F I C American companies face a different challenge. Their ability to react quickly can sometimes become a substitute for planning. Solving an emergency is admirable, but preventing the emergency is better. Stronger process controls, better forecasting, deeper supplier partnerships, and long-term invest- ment can make American manufacturers more competitive without taking away their entrepre- neurial character. Conclusion The strongest PCB companies combine American- style engineering access, speed, creativity, and customer intimacy with Asian-style process control, scalability, continuous improvement, and long-term planning. It's possible through digital communica- tion, shared engineering platforms, automated manufacturing data, simulation, and AI. Technology helps, but it doesn't replace trust. AI may identify a design concern, improve sched- uling, or organize manufacturing information, but experienced people must still make responsible decisions. Customers want to know that someone understands their product, tells them the truth, and remains involved when conditions become difficult. The Pacific Ocean is vast, but the distance between our industries is narrowing. The most valu- able progress will not come from proving that one region is better, but from recognizing where each region is better and having the humility to learn from it. The companies that exchange knowledge as freely as they exchange products will build the strongest future for PCB manufacturing. SMT007 Tianming Liu is president of FSQuality Co. and FUJI PCB. To read past columns, click here.