• Digital Edition
  

FEATURES

• Cover Story
  Understanding IPC-9850
  To avoid misunderstandings, purchasers should compare the accuracy and DPMO specifications at the IPC reference speed, and should ask for reference speeds for their specific application, rather than just relying on raw IPC figures.
  By Sjef van Gastel
  

• Top 50 EMS Companies
  The $50 Billion Club
  The gap between the Top 10 EMS companies and their smaller rivals is striking. But to make our exclusive list of the largest EMS companies in 2008 involves first reaching $200 million in sales.
  By Mike Buetow and Chelsey Drysdale

• Test Developments
  The Changing Role of OEM Product Development Engineering Teams
  OEM engineering teams are being asked to do more with less on a regular basis. Result: Product development teams and suppliers see changes in the way they collaborate. A look at the types of changes likely to be driven by product development team downsizing and areas where a focused supply base can help fill the gaps.
  By Duane Benson

FIRST PERSON

• Caveat Lector
  Let's call a spade a spade. Better yet, let's not call anything "low halogen.".
  Mike Buetow

MONEY MATTERS

• Global Sourcing
  In the failed cases we see in our research, the cost of replacing a supplier far exceeds savings sought by the continuous cost reductions. OEMs start spending many dollars to chase pennies.
  Jennifer Read

TECH TALK

• Screen Printing
  Like SMT many years ago, it appears embedded passives may be the industry's next leap of faith.
  Clive Ashmore

• Reflow Soldering
  When solderability is causing defects, the use of nitrogen in reflow may be beneficial. For optimal cost-effectiveness, nitrogen should be applied only in the reflow areas.
  Ursula Marquez de Tino

• Test and Inspection
  It is well documented that the farther up the production line a defect is found, the less expensive it will be to repair. These economic times leave no room for a $1 billion warranty extension.
  Stacy Kalisz Johnson

• Tech Tips
  Excessive tarnish can inhibit flux effectiveness during manufacturing and may eventually lead to corrosion of the silver finish and underlying copper conductors.
  American Competitiveness Institute

• Technical Abstracts

DEPARTMENTS

Industry News
Market Watch
Product Spotlight
Ad Index
Assembly Insider

On the cover: IPC-9850 is a basic industry reference, but doesn’t tell the whole story.