Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/734166
72 SMT Magazine • October 2016 a leader, to coordinate and decide how best to employ each individual. • Set the Standards by Leading by Ex- ample: Employees tend to watch manag- ers' and directors' appearance and attitude at work, using it as an example. If you set the standards high for yourself, your em- ployees are most likely to follow the same trends and be motivated by your attitude. • Teamwork and Accountability at All Times: Train your employees with a purpose and emphasize the essential el- ements of teamwork and realism. Teach your people to train, play and operate as a team. Be sure that everyone knows their positions and responsibilities within the team framework. • Training and Personal Develop- ment: Show your employees you are in- terested in their welfare by giving them the opportunity for professional develop- ment. Assigning tasks and delegating au- thority promotes mutual confidence and respect between the leader and the team. In the fast-paced environment of the EMS industry, there is no room for people hiding from their responsibilities. The customer is at the heart of the overall business model, so it is critical for employees in the industry, from the production floor to top management, to know how important their role for the organization is, and to always work as a team to make sure the quality of the product is unmatched and de- livered in a timely manner, as required by the customer. Leadership is also the ability, in our indus- try, to have a strategic outlook on where the in- dustry is going to be in 10 years, making it pos- sible to evolve as a preferred partner. Indeed, as a contract manufacturer, it can be easy to focus on what's needed now and tomorrow, and to deliver the products to customers at the right time. However, every EMS organization needs a leader with a vision, one who knows where the growth is going to be in the next five years, and how to strengthen capabilities and technologi- cal expertise to address the needs of customers in the future. Not today, and not just tomorrow. Be sure to put training programs in place to facilitate mobility within groups and divisions. Give employees opportunities to evolve and participate in different functions and grow as leaders. The success of the teams and the com- pany will surely follow. SMT Albert C. Yanez Sr. is the corporate VP of Asteelflash Group and president of Asteelflash AMERICAS. Researchers at the Future Re- newable Electric Energy Distribu- tion and Management (FREEDM) Systems Center at North Caroli- na State University have devel- oped a new type of inverter de- vice using off-the-shelf compo- nents made of the wide-bandgap semiconductor material silicon carbide (SiC). The SiC-based inverter features greater efficien- cy in a smaller, lighter package – which should im- prove the fuel-efficiency and range of hybrid and electric vehicles. It can convey 12.1kW/L – close to the U.S. Department of Energy' s goal of developing inverters that can achieve 13.4 kW/L by 2020. By way of com- parison, a 2010 electric vehicle could achieve only 4.1 kW/L. The power density of new SiC materials allows engineers to make the inverters – and their components, such as capacitors and inductors – smaller and lighter. What's more, the design of the new power component is more effective at dissipat- ing heat than previous versions. The current SiC inverter prototype was designed to go up to 55 kW. The researchers are now in the process of scaling it up to 100 kW. New Tech Promises to Boost Electric Vehicle Efficiency, Range DEFINING A LEADER