Five Myths about IPC. (News from Northbrook).(Institute of Printed Circuits)

During the past decade, IPC, much like the industry it serves, has gone through significant changes. Offshore competition, the emergence of new market segments, mergers and acquisitions, industry expansion followed by gut-wrenching contraction, and technology shocks, have all impacted the PCB industry and IPC.

Because of these changes, several myths--rumors may be the more appropriate term--have gradually sprung-up about IPC, its governance and programs. I feel responsible for these myths or rumors. I have seen time and time again that a lack of communication creates an information vacuum. This information vacuum is filled with rumors and, subsequently, these rumors grow into myths. Therefore, I would like to confront what I call "The Five Myths About IPC."

Myth 1: The EMS Industry has disproportional representation and influence on the IPC board of directors.

Do EMS members on the board of directors have a disproportionate voice on the board? Absolutely not. For example, in 1994, representatives from nine PCB fabricators and two EMS providers comprised the IPC board. Five years later, the board was expanded to include members from 12 PCB fabricators and four EMS companies.

On January 1, 2002, when our current board began its term, there were members from ten PCB manufacturers, five EMS companies, and three representatives from the PCB supplier and assembly equipment industry serving on the IPC Board.

I will not apologize for the growth of the EMS industry within IPC. I believe the EMS industry plays a vital role in the organization and the electronics supply chain. It will continue to grow in importance as more and more OEMs outsource their assembly and system build operations in North America and overseas. Whether you like it or not, whether you accept it or not, you can't turn back the clock. The EMS industry will not go away.

Myth 2: The IPC should be doing more for the U.S. PCB industry.