Leveraging artificial obsolescence to operationalize the domestic supply chain.
In my previous article, we explored the 1941 Victory Plan as a masterclass in industrial foresight, where the US moved from isolation to becoming the “Great Arsenal of Democracy.” As President Franklin Delano Roosevelt noted in 19401 the goal was not just to design weapons, but to produce them in sufficient volume to save future generations the “agony and suffering of war.” Today, as we face a new era of near-peer competition, the Victory Plan has been reborn, with a new focus shaped by the modern battlefield. While the 1940s emphasis was on steel and aircraft, our current challenge lies in the rapid, high-volume production of electronics and sensors like those that power modern unmanned systems.
An investigation of surface energy effects on adhesive bond strength.
Reliable bonding depends on three critical variables working in synergy (Figure 1). If any of these pillars is weak or inconsistent, overall bond performance is compromised.
Without the right context, AI gives answers that sound right but can quietly derail manufacturing decisions.
It’s 9:15 AM on a Tuesday, and Maria – your rising star process engineer – is about to make a $50,000 mistake.
She asked AI a simple question: “What’s the recommended cure temperature for FR-4 laminate?” The answer came back instantly, confidently: “Cure at 180°C for 90 minutes.” She’s two clicks away from updating the work instruction that will go to the production floor for today’s run of 24 panels.
Laser doppler vibrometry enables simultaneous measurement at dozens of points across populated PCBs, revealing component-level failure risks that accelerometers miss.
Printed circuit boards (PCBs) used in space, defense, aeronautics and transportation cannot tolerate in-service failures. Before deployment, these systems must pass environmental qualification tests, including vibration, shock, thermal cycling, radiation, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and ingress protection.
Innovation gets applause, manufacturing gets contracts.
We’re almost out of time. That is the message underlying US Department of War Secretary Peter Hegseth’s “Arsenal of Freedom” speech on acquisition reform last month.1 We’ve spent a long time chasing “perfect,” with successful programs creating low volumes of some of the most exquisite military systems in the world. These military systems have allowed us to dominate non-peer adversaries with little attrition. Recently, the war in Ukraine and threats in the Indo-Pacific have resurrected the threat of near-peer conflict. They have shown us what to expect from modern battlefields and have exposed a fundamental flaw in the DoW’s acquisition approach: slowness.
Treating technology as a human replacement strategy is a recipe for failure. Here’s the questions you should be asking.
I have good news: Your board just approved hiring a chief of staff for every single employee in your organization.
This person never sleeps. They learn instantly from every interaction and get better with use. They have encyclopedic knowledge across all human domains, from circuit design to supply chain optimization to regulatory compliance. And the cost? As little as $20 per month per employee.
There’s just one catch: They succeed only if you become their coach and manager.
Press Releases
- Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn) Commits To New 5-Year Sustainability Roadmap Through 2030
- Amtech Electrocircuits Navigates Supreme Court Tariff Ruling
- Escatec Appoints Christa Schnider as Chief Sales Officer to Drive Global Growth
- PulseForge Makes Major Breakthrough Which Allows Flux-less Soldering in an Ambient Environment