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34 The PCB Design Magazine • August 2016 years of lessons learned, and putting it in a soft- ware tool. I will say that it was tough to carve out the time to create something meaningful. I felt like I was in college again, cranking out pages and graphics into the evenings and on weekends as the deadline approached. But, it's done, and I think it'll be a helpful introduction to signal in- tegrity. Q: Is there going to be an eighth edition? A: Heck if I know, but if there is, I'll probably double down on updating and improving the mechanical section. ____________________________________ Suzy Webb Sr. PCB Designer, Design Science (Chapter 21) As PCB designers, we have the responsibil- ity to bring order and inclusion to the chaotic needs of all the groups we work with. Those groups include the circuit design, mechanical design, fabrication, assembly, test, reliability, EMI issues, data sheet and model requirements, industry standards, industry specifications, and so on. In short, we have much to understand, and many hats to wear! All that, and it is our responsibility to prevent problems as much as possible, so that the product will perform as ex- pected, will not need re-design, and will reach the market in a timely manner. Many of us understand these principals be- cause we have been around the business a very long time. Unfortunately, that body of knowl- edge may be fading away from the newer de- signers. The recent recession thinned the de- signer ranks considerably, and other long-time designers are getting near retirement age. There are no schools or engineering classes that teach the nuances of PCB design. There are no books or classes that can teach all of the ramifications of choosing this issue over that (although the Printed Circuits Handbook and books on specif - ic topics are a very good start). Some of us try to share our knowledge with newer designers by leading classes, writing articles, speaking at conferences, and consulting at businesses. We encourage others to share their knowledge through user forums, software group meetings, and Designers Council meetings. Whether a designer is relatively new to the business, or an engineer is designing his own boards, we en - courage him to read those articles or forums. Attend those classes, workshops, and confer- ences even if you must do it on your own time. (Many of us did it too.) Now is the time to be pro-active about your career! You will need a good foundation because there are many new challenges coming. ____________________________________ Michael Carano VP Technology and Business Development, RBP Chemical Technology (Chapter 32) As an industry veteran with 36-plus years of ex- perience, I have come full circle in my belief as to how the North Ameri- can electronics industry can compete in today's global economy. Many years ago I felt strongly that the North American electronics industry in general and the printed circuit board indus- try in particular were second to none. Then, as OEMs shifted to an outsourcing model, much of the expertise and know-how went with it. As I traveled globally I experienced this trend first hand. First the migration of cellphones then smartphones, television sets, even semiconduc- tors were finding a home outside of the United States. What would be the future? Well, a few data points recently allowed my belief to com- plete the circle. As an example, last October (2015), IPC hosted the HDI/Flex Conference in Minneapolis. The two-day event was well attended by over 115 participants. The latest information on via filling, reliability, materials and solderable finishes flowed from the experts to the audience. The PCB fabricators in atten- dance were some of the biggest and the best: Multek, TTM, and FTG. And all North American headquartered. Very impressive. All have a large manufacturing footprint on the continent. THE AUTHORS OF THE PRINTED CIRCUITS HANDBOOK SPEAK