by David Bergman, vice president, Standards and Training If you had the chance to align your EMS facility with Industry 4.0, set up seamless data communication between all equipment on your line – even conveyors – and be able to track production on all the equipment from any part of the world, would you do it? If you are a machine vendor, would you like to get out of the business of developing and managing bespoke interfaces for your customer? As an OEM, what would you think about one communication software to provide an added dimension over real-time control of product quality, from board assembly to box build? What if I told you the entry cost for such a communication-enabling software is available at the low, low IPC price of exactly zero dollars? Would it sweeten the deal if I told you that you could plug this software into your existing line in one day? IPC CFX communication software for smart production (IPC-2591) and HERMES standard for machine-to-machine communication (IPC-HERMES-9852) are industry-developed standards forming the foundation and backbone of Industry 4.0 Applications. IPC CFX-HERMES simplifies and standardizes machine-to-machine communication while also facilitating machine-to-business and business-to-machine solutions. During IPC APEX EXPO 2019 in San Diego, California, January 29-31, 2019, IPC will demonstrate two live production lines using this standard software in the IPC Digital Factory on the show floor. One line will utilize both HERMES for machine-to-machine communication and CFX for output messages to the cloud, and the second line will utilize CFX. The HERMES-CFX line will run printed boards of different sizes through the following process sequence using equipment from a variety of manufacturers. We will use boards of different sizes so you can see the power of HERMES, as it communicates upstream to equipment so it can automatically adjust for the new board size. The CFX line will run the same boards through a separate line, and it will use additional equipment as a demonstration of the compatibility of the software. You will also be able to follow both production lines—in real time—from your mobile device. This will provide you a real-world view of how you will be able to utilize the data reporting from CFX and HERMES in your own facilities. HERMES-CFX line sequence Laser marker – ASYS Group Screen printer – ASM Solder paste inspection – Saki Pick and place – Kulick & Soffa Reflow oven – Heller Post-over conveyor – Nutek Post-reflow AOI – Koh Young X-ray – Test Research, Inc. ICT – Keysight Output conveyor – Nutek CFX line sequence Input conveyor – Flexlink Dispense robot – OK International Solder paste inspection – Koh Young Pick and place – Fuji Reflow oven – Heller Post-oven conveyor – Flexlink Post-reflow AOI – Pemtron X-ray – Creative Electron Buffer conveyor – Flexlink Inspection conveyor – Flexlink Rework center – OK International Each line will run throughout each day of IPC APEX EXPO, so you will have time to see for yourself the simplicity and power of IPC CFX and HERMES. For instance: It provides a level playing field for smaller companies Because this is an industry standard and available at no cost, with very little work to be done to implement, you can use the same software as larger, globally located companies. All manufacturers will save time and money Developing your own communications software, especially for multi-vendor equipment lines, can cost upwards or $30,000 and take up to a full business quarter to implement. IPC CFX and HERMES are free to industry and can be implemented in a day. Reduce or eliminate customer follow-up for software issues One of the IPC Connected Factory Initiative Subcommittee members, who works on the software development side, communicated the ease of CFX and HERMES implementation. He directed one of his customers to the software and the customer loaded and implemented it without the need for technical support. The software serves as a building block for enhanced production tracking IPC CFX and HERMES are written in a way that a company can very easily and inexpensively add app-like functionalities for such things as materials traceability or quality improvement. Adaptable enough for even hand soldering tools One of the Digital Factory participants, OK International, found a way to make CFX, which was written for MS .Net, work in Linux. Not only does this present even more possibilities for industry participation, they even implemented it into hand soldering tools. On-demand, real-time data on any piece of equipment worldwide EMS companies looking to place orders or report to OEM customers on project statuses will be able to see the activity of any piece of equipment in any facility in any part of the world from their computer or handheld device. These are just a handful examples of the simplicity, value and power of IPC CFX and HERMES. Visit the IPC Digital Factory during IPC APEX EXPO 2019 to see these standards in action. IPC Digital Factory San Diego Convention Center – Sails Pavilion Tuesday, January 29, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM Wednesday, January 30, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM Thursday, January 31, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM Join the IPC 2-17 Subcommittee Meeting at IPC APEX EXPO You can learn more about these two standards and how you can shape their direction by attending the 2-17 Connected Factory Initiative Subcommittee meeting during the show. The subcommittee will meet Monday, January 28, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM in room 17A at the convention center. The meeting is open to anyone. For more details about IPC CFX-HERMES, the live production line or the 2-17 meeting, e-mail me at DavidBergman@ipc.org.

by Ken Schramko, senior director, North American government relations You have probably seen news reports about the various ways that the U.S. Government partial shutdown is affecting "regular people." So we were wondering: How it is affecting the electronics industry, if at all? How is it affecting your company? Please help us by taking a minute now to answer an IPC survey on this issue. Your answers will help us understand the situation better and advocate on your behalf. We’ll publish the results here in about 7-10 days and alert you in an upcoming edition of IPC Global Insight, IPC's weekly e-newsletter. In the meantime, this two-page document from our colleagues at Prime Policy provides an overview of which government agencies and functions are most affected. To cite just a few examples: About 95% of the U.S. EPA’s staff are on furlough; as are about half the staff at the White House office that reviews and approves pending regulations. The State Department will keep issuing passports and visas until they run out of funds; and taxpayers will not have services to help with taxes.

Are you building military boards or circuits for 5G? If so, reliability is of paramount importance and you should consider attending IPC’s Executive Forum for Advancing Automotive Electronics and learn what is being done to improve reliability, what high voltage tests are being conducted, and what new materials and process chemicals have been developed to produce fine lines and dissipate heat. Tier 1 providers will discuss what is expected and what they are doing to improve reliability. Industry icons from Asia and Europe will join American leaders to provide information to help you meet tomorrow’s fabrication and assembly challenges. This not-to-be-missed event will be held at IPC APEX EXPO 2019 on January 28 in San Diego. Registration information for the Executive Forum on Advancing Automotive Electronics is available online at www.ipcapexexpo.org. For further information, contact Forum Chairman Gene Weiner at gene@weiner-intl.com or Tracy Riggan, senior director, IPC Member Support at TracyRiggan@ipc.org.

The IPC V-TSL-MVIA Weak Interface Microvia Failures Technology Solutions Subcommittee formed in 2018 to identify the need to identify the risks, causes, and mitigation of failures due to a weak interface between the plated copper at the bottom of a microvia and the underlying copper surface. The subcommittee will hold an open forum during IPC APEX EXPO for industry to discuss this important topic and how industry can come together to address it. Attendees will be invited to share their own issues regarding the weak microvia interface and will learn how to participate on the subcommittee. IPC Weak Microvia Interface Open Forum Wednesday, January 30 10:15 AM to 12:00 PM San Diego Convention Center Room 11A Agenda 10:15-10:20 AM – Introduction and Organization / IPC Solutions Committee Logistics Chris Jorgensen, IPC staff 10:20-10:30 AM – Background: History of the effort, scope of work, status and organization Marc Carter, V-TSL-MVIA Chair 10:30-10:45 AM – Presentation: Current Understanding of the Problem/Mitigation Measures Jerry Magera and J.R. Strickland, Motorola 10:45-11:05 AM – Weak Microvia Interface Project Subteam Reports • Data Collation and Mining on the Issue Happy Holden Using results of tests already conducted by various organizations to establish “knowns” vs. “unknowns” for further study and/or confirmation • FMEA “Fishbone” Presentation on what the group has done so far, the categories and that we need volunteer experts to help fill in that information • Engineering Simulation Marc Carter Initial high-level model debugging Incorporating data collation and Fishbone targets going forward 11:05-11:30 AM – Next Steps and Goals • Near term: o Breakout teams (plan for Thursday working meeting based on Fishbone) Marc Carter o Published literature and public data “mining” effort Mike Carano, V-TSL Committee Chair • Middle term: o Knowns/Unknowns: Can any intermediate conclusions or improved mitigation techniques be communicated in another white paper? o Identify Testing Needed: Gaps and confirmation o Capture suggestions from the floor (continue during Q&A/Discussion) • Long term: Prevention: Can it be accomplished through design, process enhancements, etc.? 11:30AM-12:00PM – Q&A Session and How to Get Involved The IPC V-TSL-MVIA Weak Interface Microvia Failures Technology Solutions Subcommittee formed as a result of work done on IPC-WP-023. Order IPC-WP-023, IPC Technology Solutions White Paper on Performance-Based Printed Board OEM Acceptance Via Chain Continuity Reflow Test: The Hidden Reliability Threat - Weak Microvia Interface from the IPC bookstore. For more information on the IPC V-TSL-MVIA Subcommittee, e-mail me at ChrisJorgensen@ipc.org.

By Chris Jorgensen, director, technology transfer IPC has received interest from several volunteers in Europe to form an e-textiles standards interest group in Europe. Volunteers from this group would meet to influence IPC standards activities, form working groups to develop new IPC standards and to network under the umbrella of developing standards. If you would like to be added to the roster for this interest group, so you can stay abreast of its activities, e-mail me at ChrisJorgensen@ipc.org. The group is open to anyone and at no cost or obligation. For more information on the formation of this interest group and potential working groups in Europe, as well as how to participate in other IPC e-textiles standards activities, view the slide deck from the December 13 meeting to the European e-textiles market.

IPC president and CEO John Mitchell invites you to attend IPC APEX EXPO 2019. From the show floor to the class room and all points in between, IPC APEX EXPO 2019 is THE place to be to learn, network, and conduct business. https://youtu.be/jlr0XVekkKo

In Part 10 of IPC President and CEO John Mitchell’s blog series on workforce issue, John covers gender differences in the workplace. As I mentioned last week, in Part 5: Demographic Differences, we reviewed two primary topics: generational differences and gender differences. In today’s blog, we discuss discoveries around gender as it concerns the workplace and talk about what companies and organizations might do to enhance their success when confronting any challenges. Differences Expected Again, let me reiterate the danger of generalizations (some of which we are about to report on) when it comes to gender. Every individual is indeed that – an individual. What we will be sharing below represents trends, not absolutes, so to get the best results you will need to know your people well. Really well. Which leads us to our first point – Communication. READ MORE...

The IPC V-TSL-MVIA Weak Interface Microvia Failures Technology Solutions Subcommittee, formed this year, is working to identify the risks, causes, and mitigation of failures due to a weak interface between the plated copper at the bottom of a microvia and the underlying copper surface. The activity grew out of the development of IPC-WP-023, a white paper that cast a light on how a weak microvia interface is a hidden reliability threat. The subcommittee will hold an open forum for industry to learn about its activities as well as its planned path forward. Attendees will be invited to share their own issues regarding weak microvia interfaces and will learn how to participate on the subcommittee. IPC Weak Microvia Interface Open Forum Wednesday, January 30, 2019 10:15 AM to 12:00 PM San Diego Convention Center Room 11A Order IPC WP-023, IPC Technology Solutions White Paper on Performance-Based Printed Board OEM Acceptance Via Chain Continuity Reflow Test: The Hidden Reliability Threat - Weak Microvia Interface from the IPC bookstore. For more information on the IPC V-TSL-MVIA Subcommittee, contact me at ChrisJorgensen@ipc.org.

The U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published a notice seeking public comment on how it should define and identify emerging technologies that are not now controlled for export, but should be due to their national security importance. Representative general categories of emerging technologies on which Commerce seeks comments include: (i) “biotechnology”; (ii) “artificial intelligence”; (iii) “Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) technology”; (iv) “microprocessor technology”; (v) “advanced computing technology”; (vi) “data analytics technology”; (vii) “quantum information and sensing technology”; (viii) “logistics technology”; (ix) “additive manufacturing”; (x) “robotics”; (xi) “brain-computer interfaces”; (xii) “hypersonics”; (xiii) “advanced materials”; and (xiv) “advanced surveillance technologies.” Comments are due on or before December 19, 2018. IPC will be responding. Please contact IPC Vice President of Global Government Relations, Chris Mitchell, at ChrisMitchell@ipc.org with your questions and perspectives on this notice.

One of the biggest events to occur in the political and policy world in the last month was, of course, the U.S. midterm elections, in which the Democrats gained almost 40 seats in the House of Representatives while minimizing their losses in the U.S. Senate. The incoming Congress will be younger and more diverse than ever. Several key moderates and senior leaders will be leaving the scene. The election results are likely to bring even more partisan gridlock to Washington in the months ahead. That said, IPC works with policy makers on a bipartisan basis, and our policy priorities tend to earn support across party lines. Thus, we will continue to educate policymakers on both sides and advance smart policy solutions with a long-term perspective. IPC-organized webinar on the election results and what they may mean for our industry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhtqI5dCyQ8&feature=youtu.be