RoHS 2 is Now RoHS 3. What Does It Mean for You?

Do you sell electronic products to Europe? Then it’s time to check your components and wire and cable to determine if they’re RoHS 3 compliant. The latest Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive doesn’t just affect European Union (EU) nations. Rather, it affects anyone who wants to do business within the EU. The deadline for [...]

By | September 28th, 2019|Blog|0 Comments

IPC CFX: The Industry 4.0 Standard for Electronics Manufacturers

Have you heard of IPC CFX? It’s a new standard from IPC, an industry trade association, that will help electronics manufacturers implement Industry 4.0, the name given to a group of technologies that combine automation and robotics with machine sensors and data exchange. By implementing Industry 4.0 in their factories, manufacturers can increase efficiency and [...]

By | February 28th, 2019|Blog|304 Comments

Tariffs, Shortages, and Your Electronic Supply Chain

Is your electronics supply chain strong enough to withstand a combination of rapidly-escalating tariffs and historically-high component shortages? According to SupplyChainBrain, this “perfect storm” seems increasingly likely. If the storm hits with full force, the consequences may include more than just price hikes and a slowdown in new product development. Ultimately, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) [...]

By | January 31st, 2019|Blog|0 Comments

Lightning Strike Inspections and Repairs

Aircraft are susceptible to lightning strikes that can damage external structures and interior components. Lightning protection systems can divert strikes away from sensitive areas like radomes, but maintenance personnel still need to perform inspections and repairs. In this article, the third in a series, we’ll take a look at what technicians and engineers need to [...]

By | December 20th, 2018|Blog|2 Comments

Where Aircraft Lightning Strike Damage Occurs

Aircraft lightning strike damage isn’t always obvious to flight crews. That’s why ground crews can’t rely on the flight log alone for evidence of lighting events. To maintain airplanes effectively, technicians need to understand that lighting is initiated at the airplane’s leading edges and that lighting currents travel along the airplane, potentially causing swept stroke [...]

By | November 30th, 2018|Blog|1 Comment

Airplane Lightning Strikes: Common, Costly, and Misunderstood

Airplane lightning strikes are fairly common but can disrupt airline operations and cause costly delays. That’s why leading aircraft manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus install lighting protection on planes. Lighting diverters, a type of protection, can reduce the significance of strikes where a single bolt of lighting can contain as many as 1 million volts [...]

By | October 31st, 2018|Blog|2 Comments

Digital Manufacturing, Disruption, and the Internet of Things (IoT)

Digital manufacturing is an integrated, computer-based approach to manufacturing that spans the entire product life cycle. By using digital technologies like Internet of Things (IoT), manufacturers can connect disparate systems and create business value. Yet the exchange of information between digital design and physical manufacturing can also disrupt established ways of doing business. In Three [...]

By | July 30th, 2018|Blog, Uncategorized|0 Comments

Data Alone Isn’t Driving the Internet of Things (IoT)

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of connected, physical objects that contain electronics, sensors, and software. Because these objects are connected, they exchange data that can be used to improve performance. With transportation networks, for example, IoT can improve traffic routing for fewer traffic jams. Connected transportation can also facilitate smart parking for [...]

By | June 22nd, 2018|Blog|1 Comment

Cybersecurity for Electronic Assemblies

Cybersecurity isn’t just for large companies. It’s not just about computer networks either. According to September 2017 report from MForesight, a federally-funded research and development consortium, U.S. manufacturers of all sizes are prime targets for cyberattacks and cyberespionage. Hackers don’t just want to bring down your network. They want to steal your intellectual property (IP), [...]

By | March 28th, 2018|Blog|0 Comments

Supply Chains, Electronic Assemblies, and The Amazon Effect

Is the supply chain for electronic assemblies changing? In a recent article at SupplyChainDive, author Edwin Lopez argues that supply chains are in flux. Retail economists can blame Amazon, but industrial companies are choosing to re-invent their supply chains by making capital-intensive investments in warehouses and manufacturing facilities. Are you ready for what’s coming next? [...]