Reliability Matters

Episode 57: A Conversation with CAF Expert Graham Naisbitt Conductive Anodic Filament (CAF) is a form of Electrical-Chemical-Migration (ECM). Unlike surface-level ECM, CAF exists beneath the surface of the circuit assembly. Graham and I discuss the causes of CAF and methods to test for and mitigate CAF.Graham has an extensive history working in the electrical and electronic manufacturing industry. Graham was the IEC 1906 Lord Kelvin Award Winner. IEC TC91 WG2, 3 and 10 Maintenance Leader of 4 Standards. He is Vice-Chair of the IPC 5-30 Cleaning and Coating Sub-Committee overseeing 15 IPC Standards Development Committees. He has received 14 IPC Standards Awards and is a BSI British Standards Institution (EPL501) Member.Graham is a Specialist in Insulation Resistance Testing, Ionic Contamination Control, Solderability, Conformal Coating materials and application systems, including Cleaning, Inspection and Test. Graham may be reached here:graham.naisbitt@gen3systems.com

Episode 56: A Conversation about Solder Voiding with Solder Materials, Stencil, and Cleaning ExpertsVoiding is the cause of multiple failure mechanisms. I spoke with solder material expert Tim O'Neill of Aim Solder, stencil manufacturer Prakash Gango of StenTech, and cleaning materials manufacturer Kalyan Nukala of Zestron about how solder voiding leads to product failures and methods to reduce voiding.My guests may be reached here:Tim O'NeillAim Soldertoneill@aimsolder.comwww.aimsolder.comPrakash GangoStenTechprakash@stentech.comwww.stentech.comKalyan NukalaKalyan.Nukala@zestronusa.comwww.zestron.com

My guest today is Dr. Martin Anselm. Martin is a professor at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and is also the newly elected President of the Surface Mount Technology Association or SMTA.Martin also worked for Universal Instruments. During his 12 year career at Universal Instruments, Martin was, among other positions, a Process Research Engineer and Manager of Failure Analysis Services.Martin completed his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering through Binghamton University. His research topic involved Copper Nickel Tin intermetallic formation kinetics on electroless Nickel substrates. Martin also completed a Masters of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Clarkson and an undergraduate degree in Physics from SUNY Geneseo.

Episode 54: A Conversation with Michael Ford about Digital TwinMichael Ford and I talk about Digital Twin, its purpose, value, and its future.Michael Ford, Sr.Director of Emerging Industry StrategyAegis SoftwareMichael Ford has more than 30 years working within the electronics assembly manufacturing space.Michael has a degree in Electronics from the University of Wales, Michael started his career with Sony in the UK, creating software solutions as he acquired a broad range of manufacturing knowledge. He spent eight years working in Japan which provided Michael the opportunity to expand his innovation and leadership on a global enterprise scale. Today, Michael is the Sr. Director of Emerging Industry Strategy for Aegis Software. Having worked with specialized software solution providers in the industry, Michael is an established thought leader for Industry 4.0 and Smart factories. Michael is also actively working on industry standards with the IPC, including his position as chair of new traceability standard, IPC-1782. Earlier this year, Michael’s Thought leadership on Industry 4.0 manufacturing and development of the IPC Connected Factory Exchange (CFX) was formally recognized when IPC awarded him with the prestigious president’s award.Michael spoke to me from his office in the UK.Michael may be reached at:mford@aiscorp.com

Episode 53: Meet the Press - A Conversation with Industry Journalists about the State of the EMS IndustryIn this episode, I speak with Mike Buetow, Editor In Chief of Circuits Assembly and Printed Circuit Design and Fab magazines, Trevor Galbraith, publisher of Global SMT and Production magazine, and Philip Stoten of Scoop TV. We discuss the state of the electronics assembly industry, the affects of COVID-19 on our industry, emerging technologies, and more.Mike Buetow may be reached here:https://www.circuitsassembly.com/ca/mbuetow@upmediagroup.comTrevor Galbraith may be reached here:https://globalsmt.net/global-smt-podcast/tgalbraith@globalsmt.netPhilip Stoten may be reached here:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjzfiQYhqvxKU3hwojy4onApstoten@me.com

Episode 52: A Conversation with Conformal Coating Expert Dr. Sean Clancy of HZODr. Sean Clancy and I discuss the various types of conformal coatings designed to protect circuit assemblies from moisture and other hazards. We discuss coating best-practices and current IOT-based products that are increasing the need for protecting circuit assemblies from harsh environments. Dr. Sean Clancy is the Director of Coating Technology at HZO, where he leads a group developing thin-film conformal coatings. Throughout his career, Sean has assisted hundreds of organizations with electronics manufacturing failure analysis, as well as developed functional coatings and materials for corrosion protection, charge storage, chemical sensing, light emission, and medical research. Sean holds an Adjunct Professor appointment at the University of Utah's Materials Science and Engineering Department and has previously provided consulting services in the STEAM fields (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics).Sean earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Southern California, his B.S. in Chemistry from the University of North Florida, and his Certificate in Project Management from the University of Delaware.Dr. Clancy may be reached here:sclancy@hzo.com

Episode 51: A Conversation with X-Ray Expert and Entrepreneur Dr. Bill Cardoso Bill started his first company in Brazil at age 17 and sold it a few years later to move to the US to work for the Department of Energy’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory to do nuclear and high energy physics research. As the Department Head for Systems Engineering and after a 10-year long career at Fermilab, He moved from Chicago to southern California to start Creative Electron from his garage Bill was what could be described as an early achiever, earning his associates degree at age 13!Bill earned a BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul and MS and a PhD from the Illinois Institute of Technology, and, if that weren’t enough an MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of BusinessBill may be reached here:bcardoso@creativeelectron.com

Episode 50 - A Conversation with IPC's Matt Kelly on IPC Technology Focus & InvestmentIPC’s New Chief Technologist Matt Kelly talks about Factory and Supply Chain of the Future ModernizationIn this new leadership role, Kelly will help IPC’s members to engage in latest technology trends and supply chain transformation that continues to evolve across the electronics industry. He will work to define the scope of what future products and services the association should develop in the areas of standards, education and advocacy. Kelly’s primary areas of focus will be leading the following initiatives: “factory of the future” standards and technical research; industry intelligence funding; and creation and launch of an Industry CTO Council. Kelly comes to IPC following a 14-year career at IBM Corporation, holding several senior technology and engineering leadership positions within IBM Systems Division. His technical contributions include 25 patents, 80 publications, and numerous industry awards from NAM, ASM, SMTA, IPC, and IBM.Very familiar with IPC’s standards development process, Kelly has served on seven technical committees and currently serves as vice chair of the 5-21H Bottom Termination Components Task Group and co-chair of the 2-17 Connected Factory Initiative Subcommittee.“Matt is widely recognized in the global electronics industry as a premier thought leader and an innovator, and his work will play a pivotal role in helping us know our members and the industry – with greater depth and breadth,” said Sanjay Huprikar, vice president, Solutions. “We are thrilled to welcome Matt to the IPC team, and we look forward to the new contributions he will make to the electronics industry.”Based in Toronto, Kelly can be reached at MattKelly@ipc.org.

Episode 49 - A Conversation with SMTA's Global Executive Director Tanya Martin and SMTA President Greg Vance about SMTAI 2020's new virtual format. Numerous exhibitors are taking part in this new format. More than 100 technical presentations and papers will be available on-demand. Additionally, nine 3.5 hour professional development courses will be presented live!Register to attend the virtual exhibition and technical conference here:https://smta.org/mpage/smtai

Episode 48: A Conversation with David Alexander, a China supply chain expert about Importing from and Exporting to China.We are all familiar with the pros and cons of importing goods from China. China supply chain expert David Alexander discusses pros and cons of doing business in China. David also discusses the lesser known opportunities of exporting US goods to China and China's appetite for western brands.David is the Founder and President of Baysource Global, company which provides management of offshore factories, US sales and distribution of Chinese products as well as distribution of US products in to China.Information on Baysource Global is available here:https://baysourceglobal.comDavid Alexander may be contacted here:david.alexander@baysource.net