Wally Rhines joins Mike Buetow each quarter to share details from the latest ESD Alliance report on sales of PCB design software, computer-aided engineering tools, semiconductor tools, related IP and services, and employment.

This chat, we discuss the long PCB/MCM design tool rally, a massive jump in employment. broader strength across the ECAD industry, and the effects US policies toward China are having on the market.

In this episode, Mike Konrad is joined by Chris Ward, founder and managing director of Solderking Assembly Materials, a UK-based manufacturer of solders and chemical consumables for electronic, electrical, and engineered assemblies.

Margaret Upshur is CEO of Mobius Materials, a global online marketplace for excess electronic components. Before founding Mobius, she was senior director of operations at Particle, which supplies application infrastructure for deploying software and models on computing or IoT devices. And while in college she cofounded a company that made a hand-held device to detect the alcohol content of liquids.

Noting some $15 billion or more is wasted each year in unused or obsoleted components, Upshur founded Mobius to provide a platform for trading excess inventory much in the way Wall Street brokers trade stocks. 

We discuss her model for a sustainable, resilient supply chain; why the buyers and sellers on the Mobius platform can trade anonymously; as well as the PCB Community Meetup featuring a panel on the Ever-Changing Procurement Environment Mobius is sponsoring at PCB West on Oct. 1.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction & Episode Overview

02:12 Meet Victoria Rawinsky: Expertise & Industry Impact

05:09 Social Media Challenge & Making Science Accessible

09:09 Humidity in Electronics: The Science & Risks

15:12 Types of Humidity & Effects on Materials

20:04 Manufacturing Shortcuts & Hidden Failures

25:30 Real-World Reliability Failures & Case Studies

31:02 Miniaturization, Board Layout & ECM

35:52 Best Practices: Cleanliness, Coatings & Moisture Mitigation

41:32 Material Choices, Standards & the Invisible Risks

45:51 The Smell Test: Practical Tips & Final Thoughts

47:16 Upcoming Events & Community Involvement

48:18 Outro & How to Stay Connected

Stephen Chavez is principal technical product marketing manager with Siemens, but he’s best known for his three decades as a printed circuit designer and instructor. He’s a regular contributor to various industry publications and host of the Printed Circuit Podcast. He also coauthored and teaches the PCEA Training Certified Printed Circuit Designer curriculum, and is chairman of PCEA.

He talks about some of the issues designers are running into, his upcoming presentations at PCB West, and the design-related programs at the college level, where he has been teaching of late.

Mike Konrad is joined by two of the most respected names in the electronics manufacturing industry, Phil Zarrow and Jim Hall. Together, they bring decades of hands-on experience and unparalleled insight into the challenges and solutions within our field.

As the electric vehicle market accelerates, the reliability of the charging infrastructure becomes increasingly vital. Chargers that are down or malfunctioning can hinder adoption and erode consumer confidence. But who ensures these chargers stay up and running?

Terry's journey is as inspiring as it is innovative, leading a national movement for a more reliable and equitable EV charging network. With backgrounds in workforce development, clean tech, and digital operations, she’s uniquely positioned to tackle the challenges facing this growing industry.

Chapters:

00:00:00 Revolutionizing EV Charger Reliability with Charger Help

00:02:14 Meet Camille Terry, Entrepreneur and Innovator

00:04:15 Starting ChargerHelp: A Journey from EV Connect to Entrepreneurship

00:06:16 The Impact of Pollution on EV Adoption

00:08:37 Understanding Reliability as a Service Model

00:10:35 Benefits of Reliability as a Service Model

00:12:40 Optimizing Asset Performance with Data Insights

00:14:56 Common Causes of EV Charger Failures

00:16:50 Reducing Mean Time to Repair in Software

00:18:47 Evolution of Memory Cost and Data Collection

00:21:06 Challenges in EV Charger Reliability and Failures

00:23:28 Emerging Leaders in European EV Infrastructure

00:25:37 Workforce Development in EV Infrastructure

00:27:42 Impact of California's EV Charging Reliability Act

00:29:20 Tesla Charging Stations: Leading Reliability Standards

00:31:42 Automotive Firmware Failures: Responsibility and Transparency

00:34:32 Planning for Robust System Configurations

00:36:33 Future Trends in the EV Charging Industry

00:37:36 The Rise of Charger and Smart Engineering

00:39:26 The Rise of Slate EV and Building Great Electric Vehicles

00:41:25 Human Connection in Technology

00:43:24 Importance of Profitability in Business Strategy

00:45:20 The Role of Cash in Business Operations

00:47:26 Conclusion and Podcast Schedule

On this episode of PCB Chat, David Schild of the Printed Circuit Board Association of America and Mike Buetow discuss the current legislative environment for supporting the PCB industry.

We discuss the organization's latest annual meeting, the changing political environment, competition with China, and potential incentives.

Also covered:

Wally Rhines, spokesperson for the ESD Alliance, joins Mike Buetow to discuss the first quarter electronic design automation market results.

The good news: sales of PCB/MCM design software were up 5.5% to $399.8 million for the quarter, the 17th straight period of growth. Strength in Asia-Pacific offset slower results in some other regions.  The four-quarter moving average for PCB and MCM rose 8.9%.

The Americas, the largest reporting region by revenue, procured almost $2.21 billion of electronic system design products and services in Q1 2025, a 14% increase. 

Listen to the podcast for more data and analysis, including thoughts on tariffs.

Today we're diving into a topic that keeps many executives awake at night—ERP implementations. More specifically, why so many of them fail and, perhaps more importantly, how to fix them midstream before they derail your operations.

Chapters:

00:00:00 Common Failures in ERP Implementations and How to Fix Them

00:02:20 Transitioning from Calcot to Open Jar 

00:04:07 Embracing Innovative Ideas with Open Jar Philosophy

00:07:47 Why Your ERP Implementation Failed and How to Fix It

00:08:06 The Challenges of SAP and ERP Implementations

00:10:00 The Importance of Second Opinions in ERP Implementations

00:12:05 Common Misconceptions in ERP Implementation 

00:13:57 Navigating the Learning Curve in New Systems

00:15:53 Key Criteria for Successful Project Implementation

00:17:42 Identifying Unique Strengths in EMS Companies 

00:19:39 Challenges in Change Management for EMS Software

00:21:47 Early Warning Signs of a Failing ERP System

00:23:34 Navigating ERP Implementation Challenges

00:25:40 Keeping Cool Under Pressure: A Guide to Effective Problem Solving

00:27:32 Importance of ERP Functionality Prioritization 

00:29:33 Navigating ERP Implementation Changes 

00:31:56 Balancing Efficiency with Employee Discomfort in ERP Systems

00:33:22 Importance of Structured Approach in Consulting 

00:35:29 Challenges in Software Implementation 

00:37:40 The Challenges of Implementing Systems in Small Businesses

00:39:47 Challenges of Scaling a Business with Automation

00:41:55 Essential Strategies for Successful ERP Implementation 

00:43:55 Insights with Serial Entrepreneur Chintan Sataria

00:45:56 Podcast Updates and Listener Engagement