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20 The PCB Magazine • December 2015 so years. I know that at the shows the guys with the big equipment are mostly for EMS, there are many EMS member companies, and that the larg- er share of the conference is devoted to assembly issues. So how can we make sure the PCB guys are taken care of with respect to training, education and just a general say in how IPC is operated? Mitchell: More than half of IPC's PCB-market members are based in North America and IPC provides focused support and opportunities to collaborate on industry issues with PCB man- ufacturers. Several examples of this from the past year include: publishing PCB related mar- ket research reports based on statistical pro- grams; developing a technical conference en- tirely dedicated to flex circuits and HDI, which was held in Minneapolis in October, where several independent PCB fabricators participat- ed as speakers and attendees; recognizing the importance of helping the PCB members by tasking the IPC Ambassador Council to devel- op a management program for PCB/PCB sup- ply chain executives; and finally, sponsoring an exclusive dinner at IPC APEX EXPO 2015 for PCB executives to discuss ideas for how the association can help them be more productive and profitable. Additionally, efforts are ongoing in Wash- ington, D.C. to represent the PCB industry on key issues such as tax reform, R&D tax credits, Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) reform and the final rule for Category XI for Military Electronics of the United States Munitions List clarifying that PCBs "specially designed" for de- fense-related purposes will be controlled under USML Category XI. Goldman: I guess one of the places I see that fall- ing down a little bit is in the training area. I used to be on the video steering committee, back when there was one, and we did a lot of video stuff for PCB. Then it started to shift away, and now it has pretty much shifted away entirely. Mitchell: So let me just ask you a question, what kind of training would you like to see for the PCB market? Goldman: We could start with some basics about the whole manufacturing process. I haven't seen new or updated training materials for the PCB folks in a very long time. Mitchell: So when I mentioned online training pieces, I think you'll see that kind of material coming out. Goldman: That's good to hear. That has always been my concern. Mitchell: IPC has a complete line of training videos on PCB fabrication with many translated into Chinese and Spanish. We're still support- ing the design area as well. We're trying to ad- dress all supply chain training issues. Goldman: There are still 300+ companies in North America—they do the high-tech boards, they do a lot of the military and medical boards, so it's not an insignificant part. Mitchell: It's not; it's important. That's why we stay involved, because we're trying to serve the industry as a whole. Goldman: Any other things you see coming up down the road? Future plans? I know you must have a five- or ten-year plan. Mitchell: Some of the things we work on with the IPC Board, we tie to the IPC's four aspiration- al goals: standards, education, advocacy, and so- FeATure inTerview A CONVERSATION WITH IPC PRESIDENT AND CEO JOHN MITCHELL