PCB Chat

Mike Konrad interviews three subject matter experts on various topics related to electronics assembly. The guests are: Greg Beck, director of sales at Absolute EMS, a contract manufacturer. Brian Watson, cofounder of HyRel Technologies, a global provider of quickturn semiconductor modification solutions. Keith Sweatman, technical advisor at Nihon Superior, a manufacturer of soldering materials  

Chris Banton of EMA Design Automation joins Matt Leary, Geoffrey Hazelett and Mike Buetow to talk about how the EDA vendor's helps printed circuit board designers optimize their designs. Recorded live on the show floor at PCB East 2025.

For early 30 years, the International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative (INEMI), has been the go-to consortium for many leading OEMs companies and their suppliers to identify and develop next-generation technology, and then help deploy it for high-volume manufacturing. Frank Mullaney, director of roadmapping, and Emma Hudson, new project manager, discuss some of the consortium’s ongoing projects, including new content on PCB test methods, solders, and laminates. Mullaney has a Ph.D. in electronic engineering from University College Dublin, and spent 20 years in managerial and technical roles for Bell Labs, where he worked on a range of wireless and networking technologies, and established Bell Labs’ Internet of Things research program. He is also cochair of the Complex Integrated Systems section of the INEMI Roadmap. Hudson previously was distinguished member of technical staff at from Underwriter’s Labs, and has a bachelor’s in materials engineering from Coventry University, and worked in the automotive electronics sector in three continents. 

Tom Britton and Nataliia Matsiuk join Geoffrey Hazelett of FreedomCAD, Matt Leary of Newgrange Design and Mike Buetow of PCEA to share work on a Department of Energy program that pair scientists with real-world industry problems. In particular, Britton and Matsiuk are focused on developing an AI solution for the PCB manufacturing industry. Among the topics discussed are roadblocks US companies face to develop a smart factory in which AI systems communicate with equipment, and how the public solution could involve an open AI model partnership. Recorded live on the show floor at PCB East 2025.    

Robert Bryne, director of marketing at Allspice.io, joins Geoffrey Hazelett of FreedomCAD, Matt Leary of Newgrange Design and Mike Buetow of PCEA to talk about the five-year-old company's GIT hardware platform that helps hardware and electrical engineers streamline hardware design reviews. We discuss the ECAD formats that Allspice engages with, the templates used, why GitHub matters for software teams, and the company's target markets. Recorded live on the show floor at PCB East 2025.

Today, we’re diving deep into the world of electronics manufacturing from a unique vantage point—that of the press.   Mike Konrad's guest is someone who has spent decades at the forefront of reporting on the electronics manufacturing industry. Mike Buetow, president of the Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA), has covered everything from the latest technological advancements to the biggest challenges facing manufacturers today.  If there’s a major trend shaping the industry, you can bet Mike has written about it, analyzed it, and spoken with the experts behind it.  In this episode, we’ll explore the evolving landscape of electronics manufacturing, from supply chain disruptions and AI-driven automation to the future of ultra-high-density interconnects and the real impact of reshoring efforts.  We’ll also get an inside look at what it takes to cover this ever-changing industry—how stories are chosen, what topics are making waves, and what challenges lie ahead.   00:00:00 Insights from Electronics Manufacturing Journalism 00:03:45 The Role of Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA) 00:05:00 Acquisition by PCA and Leadership Changes 00:07:17 Enhancing Careers in Circuit Board Design and Engineering 00:09:36 Collaboration in Electronics Design and Assembly 00:11:47 Unique Challenges in Board Fabrication and Design 00:14:58 The Challenges of Consistency in CM (Contract Manufacturing) 00:16:17 Diverse Strategies in Electronics Manufacturing 00:18:41 The Future of Complex Component Design 00:21:08 Understanding Moore's Law and Its Implications 00:23:39 The Impact of Tariffs on Manufacturing and Consumer Costs 00:26:09 Challenges in Relocating Manufacturing Operations 00:28:26 Challenges in Building State-of-the-Art Semiconductor Fabs 00:30:47 Supply Chain Challenges and Resiliency 00:33:15 Supply Chain Vulnerabilities in Military Manufacturing 00:35:48 Impact of Trade Wars on Manufacturing Industries 00:38:12 The Role of AI in Data Analysis and Assembly 00:40:40 The Evolution of Memory Chips and Data Collection 00:43:25 AI in Pattern Recognition Across Industries 00:45:55 The Concept of Engineer Residuals: A New Incentive in Technology Adoption 00:48:33 Advice for Young Professionals in a Rapidly Evolving Industry 00:50:54 The Role of Naivety in Revolution and Evolution 00:53:15 Networking Opportunities at PCB Trade Shows

Wally Rhines, spokesperson for the ESD Alliance, which is part of Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International, joins Mike Buetow to share the latest electronic design automation data. Rhines details highlights from the fourth quarter 2024, which was another record-setting period for PCB design tool sales as well as the other major EDA segments. And he notes that while historically EDA does well in the first few quarters of industry downturns, there are concerns for what the looming tariff battles will bring down the road.

This episode is a little different in two ways. First, host Mike Konrad recorded it not in his studio but at the SMTA Pan Pacific Strategic Electronics Symposium, affectionately known as PanPac, in beautiful Maui, Hawaii. Each year, Mike records a Reliability Matters podcast at PanPac. Normally, the format of the show is to ask questions and the guests provide answers. On this episode however, the guests do all the talking. The theme of this episode is Electronics: Down Memory Lane and a Vision for the Future. The guests on this episode share their view of the history of electronics from three different perspectives: Dr. Ron Lasky, Dartmouth College Dr. John Evans, Auburn University Dr. Tom Duval, Auburn University. They share their perspectives on the history of the electronics industry in presentation format. This episode contains three short PowerPoint presentations, which can be viewed in the video version of this podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlDYgZ6Hv6w

Supply chain management looms over everything we do, but it has been more pronounced than ever over the past five years as the Covid pandemic steered so much attention to how we procure and inventory parts.  About a month ago, DigiKey, one of the largest distributors of electronic components in the world, and EMA Design Automation announced the integration of DigiKey's myLists tool with EMA UItra Librarian's UltraBOM bill of materials management software. The benefit, they say, is that designers and engineers will have access to DigiKey's parts within their OrCAD Capture environment and can then seamlessly send a bill of materials to DigiKey. Gopu Achath, vice president of technology at EMA Design Automation, and Cody Walseth, digital product owner at DigiKey, join Mike Buetow to discuss the new collaboration. 

Today, we're tackling a topic that has become increasingly vital in recent years: supply chain management.  With global supply chains recently under immense pressure from disruptions, shortages, and growing complexity, the need for smarter, more efficient solutions has never been greater.  And what better way to explore this than by discussing the cutting-edge role of AI-powered supply chain management software. Mike Konrad's guest is Sebastian Schaal, the founder and CEO of Luminovo, a company at the forefront of transforming how supply chains are managed in the electronics industry. Sebastian Schaal is the founder of Luminovo, a leading software provider revolutionizing the electronics supply chain.  He holds two master's degrees—one in electrical and computer engineering from the Technical University of Munich and another from Stanford University, where he was a Fulbright scholar focusing on management and computer science.  Before founding Luminovo, Schaal gained diverse industry experience, working on AI algorithms for signal processing and computer vision at Intel and robotics companies NavVis and Magazino.  Additionally, he served as a consultant at McKinsey, advising on data strategy. Sebastian and his team are leveraging artificial intelligence to streamline processes, enhance collaboration, and future-proof supply chain operations.  In this episode, we'll explore how AI is reshaping supply chain management, the unique challenges facing the electronics industry, and what companies can do to stay ahead in an ever-changing global landscape.  This conversation is packed with insights you won't want to miss. So, sit back, relax, and get ready to learn about the innovations that are revolutionizing supply chains worldwide.