Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/712650
18 The PCB Magazine • August 2016 facturers, and the brands driving the innova- tion in personal technology are all part of an incredibly fast-moving industrial supply chain that stretches from San Francisco to Singapore to Shanghai. That dynamism brings constant challenges for us to up our game in providing evolving capabilities to the supply chain to do better, faster—at an affordable price. In the end, using that long tenure of 70 years of technology expertise, innovation, and insight, we provide solutions that empower our customers to make products that transform lives in fundamental and exciting ways—every day. Andy MacGregor Sales Manager P.W. CIRCUITS LTD, UK If I were in charge... …I would strictly control the either implied or stated status of being a "British manufacturer." Buying boards from offshore, packaging and labeling them with a "Made in Britain" sticker does not wash with me. The main cost element of the finished prod- uct is the populated PCB assembly and not the housing/labeling. Likewise, importing Chinese boards when your UK manufacturing facility has been moth- balled does not justify marketing your company as British. Other thoughts… One other issue, somewhat linked to my pre- vious statement, is our concern at the number of so-called PCB manufacturers who do noth- ing of the sort—relying 100% on offshore PCB production. They hide behind their registered office address. As one of the last remaining PCB manu- facturers, we of course feel the pain of cheap Chinese imports but resent the falsehoods pre- vailing in the industry. As a privately owned family company, we have been employing members of the local community since 1968, paying rates and UK taxes, but feel our hands are being tied. Companies don't even seem to bother any more as to where their products are sourced from and will not hesitate to ping off an en- quiry to Shenzhen. We are also deeply concerned about the ex- ploitation of the Chinese labour force, which seems to be ignored by so much of the British electronics industry. The transparency of the offshore market is almost nonexistent, with even Apple manufacturing companies conspir- ing to hide the truth of the desperate working conditions. Ken Moffat Business Development Manager AMERICAN STANDARD CIRCUITS, USA What I really like about the industry/ my company is... …everything is constantly changing. People are moving from one company to the next, larger corporations buy up or spin-off smaller companies and then there are new start-ups that seem to pop up out of nowhere. Change is a good thing and in order to be successful one needs to stay on top of the changes in one's ter- ritory or suffer the consequences. The constant change is definitely challeng- ing—not to mention tedious at times—but nonetheless it is something that only seems to happen quicker as I get older. My favorite tip or trick to share is... …trying different approaches to contact prospects. I do not rely solely on any one meth- od to prospect new business. Social media is a great tool but it's not the only one. Don't forget to use the telephone and try to exhibit or attend various trade shows. Enjoy your profession or change it and try something different. VOICES OF THE INDUSTRY X X