I-Connect007 is pleased to announce the release of a new episode of Voices of the Industry, featuring Kelly Davidson, the new president of North American operations for NCAB Group. The PCB industry is navigating significant change, from economic uncertainty and shifting global supply chains to evolving customer demands and increasingly complex technology requirements. Amid these shifts, Davidson stepped into her new leadership role in December of 2025.

On Sept. 17, the 2026 Electronics Day EMS Europe brought together executives, manufacturers, policymakers, and industry experts for a full day of discussion on the challenges and opportunities facing Europe’s electronics ecosystem. Across four sessions, the conversation spanned the electronics value chain. It began with European resilience and competitiveness, moved into the latest EMS market outlook, examined the infrastructure behind the rapid expansion of AI, and concluded with the growing pressures affecting PCB materials and manufacturing capacity.

What does it take to become a better PCB designer? At PCB West, I-Connect007’s Marcy LaRont talks with Stephen Chavez of Siemens and PCEA about the practical skills engineers need beyond traditional education. Chavez explains why mastering design tools, understanding manufacturability, and involving fabrication teams early are essential to successful designs. He also discusses the value of mentorship, industry certification, and conferences, offering practical advice for engineers looking to strengthen their skills and advance their careers.

Quality management as a discipline was built by a handful of people who never touched a neural network, yet whose ideas map onto AI with almost eerie precision. Dr. Walter Shewhart, Dr. Edwards Deming, Dr. Joseph Juran, Philip Crosby, Dr. Kaoru Ishikawa, and Shigeo Shingo each built a philosophy around a specific lever for improving quality, including statistical rigor, reducing variation, prioritizing effort, eliminating defects, involving the workforce, and error-proofing the process itself.