I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Amid AI, automation, advanced manufacturing, and an increasingly uncertain global business climate, our industry is moving at an electric pace. My must-reads for this week explore some of the ideas and technologies that help us keep up with so much change.

Tom Kastner reminds us why staying focused may be one of the most valuable business skills, especially when navigating mergers and acquisitions. From Lithuania, robotics expert Aurelijus Beleckis makes a compelling case that automation is no longer just about ROI; it may be the key to long-term survival. Kristin Moyer explains why co-design is rapidly replacing concurrent design as the future of hardware development, and how organizations can begin embracing the mindset today. We also celebrate the opening of TTM Technologies' new UHDI manufacturing facility in Syracuse, New York, a significant milestone for advanced electronics manufacturing and the U.S. defense industrial base. Finally, AI expert Sean Patterson continues his practical series on AI for PCB fabricators, offering guidance to help you stop wondering where to begin with AI, and start putting it to work.

Punching Out: How to Stay Focused in Business and M&A
Published June 23

Columnist Tom Kastner discusses the importance of focus in a distraction-heavy world. In M&A, “Time kills all deals,” he says, adding that more focused owners and executives are more successful in an M&A situation, and those who have developed self-reliant, high-functioning teams tend to get better valuations and overall deal outcomes. Of course, that makes sense, but it is easier said than done. This column is thoughtful and funny, and reminds us of the importance of staying focused no matter the challenges. It’s a great, quick read.

Automation as a Survival Strategy
Published June 24

While in Lithuania for the EIPC Summer Conference two weeks ago, I had the pleasure of interviewing Aurelijus Beleckis of Elinta Robotics, a local manufacturer focused on robotics as an automation solution to reduce operational costs and improve efficiency. In the the past 10 years, Aurelijus has witnessed the advancement of robot technology and utilization on manufacturing factory floors. Aurelijus explained the true value of automation beyond initial ROI timeframes and short-term thinking around staffing challenges. He believes that delaying the implementation of automation and focusing on short-term financial goals may what takes companies out of the market altogether. It’s time to think differently.

One Design, Many Minds: From Concurrent to Co-design
Published June 25

We’re hearing the term "co-design" more frequently. It speaks to collaboration at the highest level at the product development and design phase, and involves so much more than PCB design working in its own silo. Kristin Moyer’s article explains the difference and superiority of co-design over its industry predecessor, concurrent design. Kristin also explains how your organization can get started in the co-design mindset even without the advanced systems in place. For PCB designers and hardware product development professionals, this is a must read.

TTM Technologies Opens Ultra-HDI Manufacturing Facility in Syracuse, NY
Published June 23

In big industry news, the long-awaited TTM facility focused on UHDI in Syracuse, New York, is open for business. The 215,000-square-foot facility on TTM’s existing Syracuse campus was built specifically for UHDI and advanced packaging interconnect solutions for the aerospace and defense industry. TTM was a recipient of a $30 million Department of Defense (War) investment dedicated to initiatives that address “the critical gap in the U.S. defense industrial base.” The plant is exactly what the U.S. needs and hopefully there’s more to come.

Don't Buy AI, Learn It: A Fabricator's Guide to Getting Started, Part 2
Published June 23

Sean Patterson, founder and CEO of CrossGen AI, is writing a series of articles on how PCB fabricators can start implementing AI into our businesses and onto our factory floors. As the former CTO and head of AI at Summit Interconnect, Sean is well-positioned to tell us how it’s done. One of my takeaways from the series so far is to just get started. But there is a right way to maximize your time and achieve the best results. He provides tips, tricks, and even exercises to help you get into the AI mindset and discover how best to begin utilizing this massively valuable tool in your operations. Click here for part 1.