IPC CEMAC 2023: Advancing Innovation and Cooperation in the Electronics Industry

IPC CEMAC 2023, with a theme of “Building an Intelligent Future: Innovation and Cooperation in the Electronics Industry,” was held successfully in Shanghai on October 27, 2023. The event drew a crowd of more than 300 attendees from 200+ companies across the electronics industry.

During the conference, representatives and industry experts had in-depth discussions on the key topics of standardization and advanced technologies. The conference had six forums, covering automotive electronics, talent training and development, innovative products and solutions, advanced packaging, factory of the future and ESG sustainability.

At the IPC Asia Member Appreciation & Awards Dinner, IPC issued awards and celebrated member companies as well as individuals who made outstanding contributions to the electronics industry in 2022 and 2023.

Sydney Xiao, president of IPC Asia said, “CEMAC stands as IPC's annual landmark event in China, with a primary focus on addressing the most crucial subjects in the electronics manufacturing industry. It serves as a prominent platform for facilitating communication and fostering collaborative opportunities within the electronics manufacturing sector. We wholeheartedly invite greater participation to spark industry innovation and promote cooperation.”

IPC CEMAC 2024 will be held in Shanghai on October 25, 2024.

For more information on IPC CEMAC 2024, contact Glenn Gong, marketing director, IPC Asia, at GlennGong@ipc.org; Abby Zhang, event manager, IPC Asia, at AbbyZhang@ipc.org; or Blair Yan, marketing manager, IPC Asia, at BlairYan@ipc.org.

 

Winners of IPC's Taiwan Region Hand Soldering and Rework Competition 2023 Announced

IPC’s Taiwan Region Hand Soldering and Rework Competition 2023 was held in Taipei City, Taiwan on October 13, 2023.

Skilled contestants were challenged to rework a functional electronics assembly within a 45-minute time limit. Assemblies were judged on soldering in accordance with IPC-A-610H, IPC J-STD-001H, and IPC-7711/21C - Class 3 criteria, the speed at which the assembly was produced, and the overall electrical functionality of the assembly.

Skilled technicians from the electronics industry across Taiwan showcased their expertise and engaged in a fierce one-day competition. After a rigorous judging process, first-, second-, and third-place awards were presented.

Winners of IPC’s Taiwan Region Hand Soldering and Rework Competition 2023 were:

  • First Place: Yangyu Chen, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology
  • Second Place: Weiting Chen, Wistron Corporation
  • Third Place: Yisheng Cai, SINBON Electronics Co., Ltd.

For more information on next year’s Taiwan Region Hand Soldering and Rework Competition, contact Glenn Gong, marketing director, IPC Asia, at GlennGong@ipc.org; Abby Zhang, event manager, IPC Asia, at AbbyZhang@ipc.org; or Blair Yan, marketing manager, IPC Asia, at BlairYan@ipc.org.

Registration Open for the 2024 WHMA Annual Global Leadership Summit

Registration is now open for the 2024 WHMA Annual Global Leadership Summit, the industry’s only annual executive networking event for the cable and wire harness manufacturing industry including manufacturers, their suppliers, and customers.

Taking place February 13-15, 2024, in Myrtle Beach, S.C., influential thought leaders and forward thinkers will take to the stage to deliver their valuable perspectives on topics that are important to executives, including impactful leadership tactics, employee recruitment and retention strategies, building cultures of connection, and the emerging trends reshaping the electronics industry.  The lineup of speakers include:

  • David Marquet, retired United States Navy captain and bestselling author of Turn the Ship Around! A True Story of Turning Followers into Leaders. Marquet will present the conference opening keynote “Turn the Ship Around! Creating Leaders at Every Level” on Wednesday, February 14, 9:00 am to 10:15 am EST.
  • Cara Stilletto, MBA, CSP, president and chief retention officer, Magnet Culture, a Crescendo Strategies Company. Stilletto will present “The Case for Change: Critical Workforce Insights for Leaders” on Wednesday, February 14, 10:45 am to 12:00 pm EST.
  • Brian Fretwell, author and speaker. Fretwell will present “Building Cultures of Connection” on Wednesday, February 14, 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm EST.
  • Shawn DuBravac, Ph.D., CFA, WHMA/IPC chief economist. Dr. DuBravac will present “From Now to Next: The Emerging Trends Reshaping the Electronics Industry” on Thursday, February 15, 8:30 am to 9:30 am EST.
  • Steve Baker, vice president, The Great Game of Business, Inc. Baker will present “Get in the Game: How to Create Rapid Financial Results and Lasting Cultural Change” on Thursday, February 15, 10:45 am to 12:00 pm EST.

In addition to two days of inspiring keynotes and featured speakers, the conference will offer an opening workshop sponsored by the alliantgroup on “Strategic Practices for Success: Outpacing Competitors, Optimizing Bids and Nurturing Top Talent” on Tuesday, February 13, 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm presented by Neil Shah.

New this year are hands-on breakout workshops which will take a deeper dive into the keynote presentation topics and offer real, tangible, executable takeaways that leaders can immediately implement. Cara Stilletto will present “Workforce Wake-Up Call the Case for Operationalizing Turnover” on Wednesday, February 14, 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm. Steve Baker will present “Educate, Empower and Engage Your Team with MiniGames™” on Thursday, February 15, 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm. Attendees will learn leadership strategies to help their organizations succeed.

For more information on the conference including schedule, exhibition, speaker profiles, sponsorship opportunities, or to register for event, visit https://annualconference.whma.org.

U.S. Economy Approaches Tipping Point, Evidence Indicates Downturn in Europe

IPC releases October 2023 Economic Outlook Report

The U.S. economy is thriving, with a surge of 4.9 percent in the third quarter of 2023, according to IPC’s October 2023 Economic Outlook Report. The unemployment rate is 3.8 percent. Inflation is high, but it is decreasing, and wage growth is outpacing inflation, meaning workers are seeing an increase in purchasing power.

In Europe, economic growth remains delicately positive, but energy prices have become less predictable due to rising geopolitical tensions. The war in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas conflict could further erode confidence and increase uncertainty among businesses and households.

According to Shawn DuBravac, IPC’s chief economist, “Many of the forces driving U.S. economic growth in the third quarter will likely reverse in the coming quarters. While growth is strong, maintaining the current momentum will be very difficult in the year ahead. In Europe, the coming months will provide a clearer picture of whether the current economic challenges persist or evolve in 2024.”

Additional data in the October IPC Economic Outlook show:

  • In the U.S., a recession is not a foregone conclusion, but the probability remains high. Regardless, the U.S. is entering a period of slower growth.
  • U.S. industrial production rose 0.3 percent in September. The manufacturing sector rose 0.4 percent during the month.
  • In Europe, early results for Q3 appear mixed. Germany, Europe’s largest economy, declined 0.1 percent after rising 0.1 percent in the prior quarter.
  • In Europe, motor vehicle manufacturing output rose 4.1 percent (month-on-month). The sector is up 11.2 percent over the last year.

View October 2023 Economic Outlook Report. For more information on IPC’s industry intelligence program including current research and reports, visit www.ipc.org/advocacy/industry-intelligence.

 

Product Demand Remains Steady This Month, with Costs Continuing to Improve

IPC Releases October Global Sentiment of the Electronics Supply Chain Report

With no major trend shifts over the last month, electronics industry sentiment was relatively unchanged from September. Product demand has held steady, with costs continuing to improve per IPC’s October 2023 Global Sentiment of the Electronics Supply Chain Report.

“In this month’s survey, we asked a special question about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in electronics manufacturing,” noted Shawn DuBravac IPC chief economist. “Survey respondents indicated that AI is expected to be most useful for predictive maintenance, inventory management, quality control, supply chain management, and office support/activities over the next three years. However, fewer respondents believed AI would be useful for product development, lights-out facilities and sustainability.”

Additional survey data show:

  • The New Order Index slipped one point, falling to 100. This is the lowest level for this index since data collection began. The index remains out of negative territory, but a further decline could be imminent.
  • Both the Material Costs Index and the Labor Costs Index fell two points this month. This is a new low for the material costs measure.
  • Over the next six months, electronics manufacturers expect to see continued, albeit relatively stable, increase in both labor and material costs.
  • While profit margins are expected to improve, backlogs and ease of recruitment are likely to remain challenging.
  • Backlogs are expected to rise more so among firms primarily operating in APAC, North America, and globally when compared to firms in Europe.

For the report, IPC surveyed hundreds of companies from around the world, including a wide range of company sizes representing the full electronics manufacturing value chain.

View full report.

North American PCB Industry Sales Down 14 Percent in September

IPC releases PCB industry results for September 2023

IPC announced today the September 2023 findings from its North American Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Statistical Program. The book-to-bill ratio stands at 1.01.

Total North American PCB shipments in September 2023 were down 14.6 percent compared to the same month last year. Compared to the preceding month, August shipments were up 35.7 percent.

PCB bookings in September were down 32.7 percent compared to the same month last year. September bookings were up 45 percent compared to the preceding month.

“The PCB book-to-bill is relatively unchanged this month as both shipments and bookings rose,” said Shawn DuBravac, IPC’s chief economist. “However, this masks weak bookings that have finally pushed the year-to-date shipment trend negative for the first time this year.”

September 2023 PCB book to bill ratio chart 1
September 2023 PCB book to bill ratio chart 2

Detailed Data Available

Companies that participate in IPC’s North American PCB Statistical Program have access to detailed findings on rigid PCB and flexible circuit sales and orders, including separate rigid and flex book-to-bill ratios, growth trends by product types and company size tiers, demand for prototypes, sales growth to military and medical markets, and other timely data.

Interpreting the Data

The book-to-bill ratios are calculated by dividing the value of orders booked over the past three months by the value of sales billed during the same period from companies in IPC’s survey sample. A ratio of more than 1.00 suggests that current demand is ahead of supply, which is a positive indicator for sales growth over the next three to twelve months. A ratio of less than 1.00 indicates the reverse.

Year-on-year and year-to-date growth rates provide the most meaningful view of industry growth. Month-to-month comparisons should be made with caution as they reflect seasonal effects and short-term volatility. Because bookings tend to be more volatile than shipments, changes in the book-to-bill ratios from month to month might not be significant unless a trend of more than three consecutive months is apparent. It is also important to consider changes in both bookings and shipments to understand what is driving changes in the book-to-bill ratio.

IPC’s monthly PCB industry statistics are based on data provided by a representative sample of both rigid PCB and flexible circuit manufacturers selling in the USA and Canada. IPC publishes the PCB book-to-bill ratio by the end of each month.

North American EMS Industry Down 9.8 Percent in September

IPC releases EMS industry results for September 2023

IPC announced today the September 2023 findings from its North American Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) Statistical Program. The book-to-bill ratio stands at 1.27.

Total North American EMS shipments in September 2023 were down 9.8 percent compared to the same month last year. Compared to the preceding month, September shipments decreased 12.4 percent.

EMS bookings in September decreased 17.4 percent year-over-year and decreased 14.2 percent from the previous month.

“Lower bookings this month were met with lower shipments, which has kept the book-to-bill at 1.27 for the third consecutive month,” said Shawn DuBravac, IPC’s chief economist.

September 2023 EMS book to bill ratio chart

Detailed Data Available

Companies that participate in IPC’s North American EMS Statistical Program have access to detailed findings on EMS sales growth by type of production and company size tier, order growth and backlogs by company size tier, vertical market growth, the EMS book-to-bill ratio, 3-month and 12-month sales outlooks, and other timely data.

Interpreting the Data

The book-to-bill ratios are calculated by dividing the value of orders booked over the past three months by the value of sales billed during the same period from companies in IPC’s survey sample. A ratio of more than 1.00 suggests that current demand is ahead of supply, which is a positive indicator for sales growth over the next three to twelve months. A ratio of less than 1.00 indicates the reverse.

Year-on-year and year-to-date growth rates provide the most meaningful view of industry growth. Month-to-month comparisons should be made with caution as they reflect seasonal effects and short-term volatility. Because bookings tend to be more volatile than shipments, changes in the book-to-bill ratios from month to month might not be significant unless a trend of more than three consecutive months is apparent. It is also important to consider changes in both bookings and shipments to understand what is driving changes in the book-to-bill ratio.

IPC’s monthly EMS industry statistics are based on data provided by a representative sample of assembly equipment manufacturers selling in the USA and Canada. IPC publishes the EMS book-to-bill ratio by the end of each month.

Road to Reliability: Lithium-Ion Battery Technologies and Test: EV Applications

Register Now
Date
-

We are delighted to welcome Dr. Frank Richter of Greenectra to lead a discussion on Li-ion battery technologies and test methods for EV applications. Dr. Richter will introduce different Li-ion battery technologies and package types and highlight the e-mobility applications where they are being used. He will define the general parameters of the battery cells that are monitored by the battery management system (BMS). He will describe the importance and challenges of managing the thermal environment of the batteries and how temperature can impact reliability and performance. Additionally, Dr. Richter will outline how battery tests are performed and describe the challenges to determining battery cell reliability. Finally, he will talk about the importance of education in the sector and typical pitfalls.

Our "Road to Reliability" series aims to bring industry leaders together to discuss the hurdles in achieving reliability for new e-mobility technology. We will examine reliability drivers, technology applications, and target lifecycles.

Join us for this informative session to better understand technology gaps, broaden your professional connections, and uncover strategies for meeting reliability objectives.

Moderator: Stanton Rak, SF Rak Company

We want to thank our Road to Reliability series sponsor: Indium Corporation

Online Event

3000 Lakeside Dr.
Suite 105N
Bannockburn, IL 60015
United States

Online Event

Online Event
3000 Lakeside Dr.
Bannockburn, IL 60015
United States

Register Now

IPC Invites Industry Leaders to Submit Poster Abstracts for ECWC16 and IPC APEX EXPO 2024

IPC invites technical innovators, students engaged in research, academic researchers, and industry leaders to submit abstracts for technical poster presentations for the 16th Electronic Circuits World Convention (ECWC16) at IPC APEX EXPO 2024. Dedicated poster presentation networking session and poster judging are scheduled for April 9 from 5:00-6:00 pm. Once again, poster presentations will take place on the APEX EXPO show floor, maximizing visibility from an audience of industry peers.

To recognize exceptional achievement, the IPC Technical Program Committee (TPC) will judge posters during the poster session to award the “Best Technical Poster” award. New this year, a “Best Student Poster” scholarship will be awarded. For poster presentations, ECWC16 and IPC seek abstracts that describe original and unpublished results from research experiments, highlight merits of new techniques or materials as compared to alternate technologies, and/or under varying conditions. Posters should include data to support the technical content and must adhere to IPC’s non-commercialism policy.

Technical poster presentations are being sought on all relevant electronics topics, including design, materials, assembly, processes and equipment, especially:

  • Quality, Reliability, Test, and Inspection
  • Design
  • PCB Fabrication and Materials
  • HDI, uHDI and Substrates
  • Electronic Assembly Materials
  • Assembly Processes
  • Factory of the Future Implementation
  • High Reliability for Extreme Requirements
  • Sustainability for Electronics
  • Emerging Technologies
  • Market Trends and Outlook

The Electronic Circuits World Convention (ECWC16) is an international PCB symposium held every three years, in different cities worldwide. ECWC provides a valuable platform to encourage knowledge sharing about the latest information on global PCB demand, PCB manufacturing processes, and to promote the domestic PCB industry in every country and every region.

The industry’s premier conference and exhibition for the electronics industry, IPC APEX EXPO provides presenters and their companies with a notable and cost-effective opportunity to promote their expertise and gain visibility with key engineers, managers, and executives from all segments of the industry worldwide.

All submissions must be non-commercial, summarizing original and previously unpublished work covering case histories, research, and discoveries.

For more information about poster participation or other technical program opportunities at IPC APEX EXPO, visit www.ipcapexexpo.org/event-info/call-participation or contact IPC’s Professional Development and Events Manager, Julia Gumminger, at JuliaGumminger@ipc.org.

IPC Day EMS 2023: Where Have All The Orders Gone?

Date
- (1:00 - 11:00am CST)

Jointly supported by IPC and the Estonian Electronics Industries Association, IPC Day EMS 2023: Where Have All The Orders Gone? is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for the electronics manufacturing industry professionals to hear directly from and network with key industry experts in Estonia and beyond.

Register today and hear international representatives from the electronics industry, government, academia, and finance industry present the Electronics Manufacturing Sector in Europe. The seminar will discuss the latest business and technology trends, and challenges, as well as showcase the capabilities of the European and Estonian electronics industry throughout the value chain.

IPC Day EMS 2023 guest speakers represent prominent electronics industry players, such as:

  • Raymond James Investment Bank
  • in4ma
  • PRETTL Electronics
  • Optimum Data Management Solutions
  • Estonian Electronics Industries Association
  • Kuensebeck e²consulting
  • NOTE
  • IPC

Participation is free of charge. The event has limited availability so make sure to secure your seat today!

How to register?

Click here to book your seat at the seminar and view the complete IPC Day EMS program.

 

For more information, contact Philippe Léonard, IPC Europe Director (PhilippeLeonard@ipc.org), or Arno Kolk, Managing Director at Estonian Electronics Industries Association (arno.kolk@estonianelectronics.eu).

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