Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/431081
December 2014 • The PCB Design Magazine 9 hours every year for creating IPC standards for Paul Eisler's industry. So, just as a child assembles his Christmas list, I have created a similar wish list of who I believe IPC needs to seek out to be their next IPC representative: 1) A visionary: The person needs to examine the previous vision of where IPC was going, but also have a new vision of what both IPC and the industry requires in order to be productive and a continuing presence and force. 2) A selfless team player: This person should be one who listens and builds consensus for the good of the entire PCB industry, and not be driven by a personal or hidden agenda. 3) A technologist: This person should have acquired a majority of their cognitive knowledge from spending time in the trenches of this industry. There is no amount of reading that will prepare this person for what is truly needed to understand the chemistry of fabrication and assembly knowledge, as well as why the IPC standards have been authored in the manner they have for all of these years. 4) A historian: Dieter 2.0 must understand the history of where IPC has been. This will prove critical to formulating our collective direction going forward. It will be important to avoid "rat holes" of previous initiatives that have produced little or negative progress for IPC and the industry. 5) A listener: The majority of IPC is made up of participants from all aspects of the PCB design process. Every participant has a voice and an idea that needs to be shared and heard. This person needs to let these ideas come out and help shape the overall direction of our future. 6) A consensus builder: Dieter 2.0 must sort out all of this information from the participants, and use their powers of communication to ensure that a collective direction forward on a subject has the support of the majority—for the good of the majority. It would be great if there was a "recipe" for creating a clone of Dieter. But, as we all know, it is more important to be your own true leader than be just like your predecessor. Dale Sevrey, one of my many managers over the years, offered me sound personal advice regarding death: "Everyone grieves differently." In reflecting on Dale's words, I cannot rush IPC to hurry this grieving process. I respect everyone who works within (and for) this organization. I can only offer one request: If the grieving process has completed, it would be a great present to the industry if you would select a person to be our future "presence." If Dieter 2.0 could first be announced, and then formally introduced at IPC APEX EXPO 2015, I am sure there would be a surge in attendance just to meet and greet this new technologist and continue their allegiance to volunteering for IPC. I wish all of you a happy and safe holiday season with time to reflect on the joys and sorrows of this past year, and to offer thanks in prayer in anticipation of a great future for all in the coming year. PCBDESIGN Daniel J. smith is a principal technologist for raytheon Missile systems. He has taught multiple aspects of the PCB design process internationally, and he has authored several PCB-related patents, articles, and standards over the past 30+ years. To contact smith, click here. the town crier IPC'S HOLIDAY GIFT TO INDUSTRY: DIETER 2.0 continues ? Figure 1: Dieter Bergman left a void in the industry. Who will be Dieter 2.0?