PCB WARPAGE
How and Why to Use the IPC-9641 Standard
IPC-9641, High Temperature Printed Board Flatness Guideline, is the first standard to address local area PCB warpage across reflow profile temperatures. The standard is both educational about the general topic of PCB warpage measurement and specific in its guidelines for how such measurement should be done. A summary of the contents of IPC-9641, plus notes about how to implement it.
by Ken Chiavone
ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE
GHS Impacts on the EMS
OSHA’s recent update of the Hazard Communication standard 29 CFR 1910.1200 brings the HazCom standard into alignment with the United Nations Global Harmonized System. Here, the practical impacts of the GHS standard on a company’s EMS (environmental management system), given a facility’s requirement for chemical management, are discussed.
by Scott Mazur
LABOR
Determining the Profit-Maximizing Machine/Technician Ratio
More technicians cost more money but reduce wait-for-technician time. Fewer technicians save money but increase wait-for-technician time. Where is the profit-maximizing tradeoff? And what is the profit-maximizing machine/technician ratio?
by Bob Kotcher
Caveat Lector
A matter of perspective.
Mike Buetow
ROI
Living without.
Peter Bigelow
On the Forefront
Apple’s Newton: Passé or predictive?
E. Jan Vardaman
Screen Printing
It’s in the hole.
Michael L. Martel
Tech Tips
Rework, reconsidered.
Karl Seelig and Tim O’Neill
Test and Inspection
Risky business.
Robert Boguski