CLINTON, NY – Indium Corporation senior technologist Dr. Ronald Lasky has been tapped by SMTA to conduct a three-part workshop, titled Solving Real-Life Problems Using the Tools of Lean Six Sigma, in conjunction with Jim Hall, Principal SMT Consultant with ITM Consulting. The first session will be held on May 31 at 3 p.m. EDT. Parts two and three will be held at the same time on June 7 and June 21, respectively. All sessions will be conducted virtually.

The workshops are intended to provide a basic overview of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) techniques for electronic assembly. They will use a teaching example, presenting a simulated LSS evaluation of a common electronic assembly quality problem. The format will follow the fundamental LSS procedure of DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control). The workshop assumes the attendee has a basic understanding of statistics. Minitab® will be used in the quantitative aspects of the workshop.

The May 31 session, which employs a stencil printing example, will present a brief overview of LSS, define the problem, and analyze it through the first three steps of the DMAIC process.

“LSS is the fundamental technological approach to improving manufacturing processes, developed to help the U.S. be most competitive on the global economic stage,” said Dr. Lasky. “We believe this introduction will help attendees understand the advantages of LSS and to encourage them to pursue more detailed LSS training.”

Click here to register for the May 31 session and learn more about this workshop series.

Dr. Lasky is a senior technologist at Indium Corporation, as well as a professor of engineering at Dartmouth College and a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Instructor. He has more than 30 years of experience in electronics and optoelectronics packaging at IBM, Universal Instruments, and Cookson Electronics. He has authored six books and contributed to nine others on science, electronics, and optoelectronics; he has authored numerous technical papers. Additionally, he has served as an adjunct professor at several colleges, teaching more than 20 different courses on topics such as electronics packaging, materials science, physics, mechanical engineering, and science and religion.

Dr. Lasky holds numerous patent disclosures and is the developer of several SMT processing software products relating to cost estimating, line balancing, and process optimization. He is the co-creator of engineering certification exams that set standards in the electronics assembly industry worldwide. Dr. Lasky was awarded the Surface Mount Technology Association’s (SMTA) Technical Distinction Award in 2021 for his “significant and continuing technical contributions to the SMTA.” He was also awarded SMTA’s prestigious Founder’s Award in 2003.

As ITM Consulting’s resident Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, Hall works with contract assemblers and equipment manufacturers to solve design and assembly problems, optimize facility operations, and teach basic and new technologies in private and public workshops. Hall is one of the authors of the highly acclaimed SMTA Process Certification Course, along with Dr. Lasky and Phil Zarrow. From its introduction in September 2002, he has served as the program’s principal instructor, certifying nearly 1000 engineers in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Hong Kong, and China. Mr. Hall coordinates and implements all updates and improvements to the exams and course materials.

Hall is a strong proponent of in-process data capture and analysis for all assembly and related operations and other continuous improvement techniques. He participates as an instructor in the Lean Six Sigma programs offered at Dartmouth College. One of the pioneers of reflow technology, he has been actively involved in electronic assembly technology for more than 26 years. Hall’s expertise lies in process development and integration, fluid and thermodynamics, and computer control systems. He has delivered numerous papers and workshops on surface mount technology at technical seminars around the world. He is also the co-host of Circuitnet/Circuitmart’s “BoardTalk” audio program.

CHATSWORTH, CA – NEOTech, a leading provider of electronic manufacturing services (EMS), design engineering, and supply chain solutions in the industrial, medical, and mil/aero markets, announces the recent opening of its internal production training center for employees wishing to continue career development. This new training center, located at the Agave2 site in Juarez, Mexico, includes classroom instructors with audio/visual support technology and its own full SMT line of equipment to simulate the production floor environment.

NEOTech is well known in the industry for its commitment to provide high-quality and high- reliability electronic manufacturing services and maintains focus on continuous improvements for internal processes and employee development. With this new training center, NEOTech increases opportunities for manufacturing team members to acquire enhanced skillsets and further career development. The company is very excited about the training center’s grand opening being a highlight for customer tours, allowing them to showcase NEOTech’s investment in improving workers’ production skills, which in turn guarantees higher levels of quality for their customers product builds.

“By offering instructor lead training and hands-on simulated production work sessions, NEOTech gives each team member the opportunity to learn vital skills that help them grow in the company and helps NEOTech retain a good strong workforce,” commented Arturo Mendiola, NEOTech Vice President of Operations. “Our goal is to empower our people to take a proactive role in improving themselves, which increases their value-add to the organization and increases our value-add position to our customers. We are extremely proud to open our first training center at the Agave2 site, and we are excited for the benefits it brings our entire organization.”

NEOTech’s goal is to successfully convert customers’ product technology into engineered products, providing the most capable supply base, manufacturing products with care, and delivering them on time. The company is large enough to offer refined Tier 1 tools, processes, and capabilities, yet small enough to provide individualized care and service. NEOTech provides tailored project-by-project services that focus on each customer’s individual, unique needs. The result is a true collaboration in which the customer’s needs are met – or exceeded – in a timely, efficient, and cost-effective manner.

With more than 40 years of heritage in electronics manufacturing, NEOTech specializes in high-reliability programs in the Aerospace and Defense industry, Medical Products, and High- Tech Industrial markets. NEOTech is well recognized as a premier EMS provider with in- depth experience manufacturing high-tech products and managing stringent U.S. government requirements. For more information about NEOTech services, visit the company’s website at www.NEOTech.com 

SAN DIEGO, CA – Aculon, Inc., a US-based manufacturer of electronic protection coatings, entered a non-exclusive global distribution agreement with global distributor Ellsworth Adhesives. The agreement allows Ellsworth Adhesives to distribute Aculon® NanoProof® 3 series.

The NanoProof® 3 series is a drop-in replacement for 3M™ Novec™ Engineered Grade Coatings products, i.e., Novec™ 1700, 1900, and 2700 series. The NanoProof® 3 Series provides up to IPX5 level protection to PCBs and electronic components. This liquid-phase coating uses proprietary polymer technology to achieve dust and water protection across many substrates on a PCB. The NanoProof® 3 series features flexible application methods, including spray, dip, and dispensing, with no cure requirement, quick processing times, improved yields, and reduced equipment costs.

“With 3M’s desire to rapidly exit their Engineered Grade Coating business, customers began reaching out to Aculon® looking for a drop-in replacement to meet their current needs,” shares Edward Hughes, CEO of Aculon®. “We have not only formulated a line of electronics protection coatings to match the 3M™ product line-up but also partnered with Ellsworth Adhesives who is currently the leading distributor of 3M™ Novec™ Engineered Grade Coatings in North America. We can help facilitate a quick transition from 3M™ to Aculon® products, creating a win-win for Aculon®, 3M™, and Ellsworth Adhesives. Ellsworth Adhesives is not only qualified to supply major aerospace and automotive customers but also brings tremendous technical depth with their very strong engineering salesforce.”

Jay Richardson, Vice President of North America for Ellsworth Adhesives adds, “For Ellsworth Adhesives, it is important to support our customers as our partners’ priorities change. We are a globally recognized leader and trusted distributor, having Aculon® step in and meet these needs is aligned with our goal of providing engineered solutions to fit our customers’ needs.”

Learn more about Aculon® NanoProof® 3 series at https://www.aculon.com/nanoproof-3-3m-novec-replacement/ 

BILLINGSTAD, NORWAY – Maven Wireless Sweden AB (publ) has entered into a production agreement with Kitron Aktiebolag a leading Scandinavian Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) company. Kitron has operations in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Lithuania, Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, India, China, and the United States.

The manufacturing partnership will initially be supported at Kitron’s factory in Jönköping Sweden.

“Since its founding, Maven Wireless has rapidly grown in both size and scope. Today, its distribution of sales includes large portions of Europe, Middle East, and Asia. Maven Wireless is also doing successful business development in North America, which means Kitron USA could also be a potential future manufacturing site. We are happy to have yet another EMS partner which can support our rapid growth into the years to come, says Fredrik Ekström CEO of Maven Wireless

“We are very happy that Maven Wireless has chosen Kitron as a manufacturing partner to support their growth. Kitron has a long history of producing RF and telecom products. Signing a long-term partnership agreement with Maven Wireless, a market leader in telecommunications for indoor- & tunnel coverage, is a great recognition," says Stefan Mutas-Hansson MD of Kitron AB