Circuits Assembly Online Magazine - Features

SAN FRANCISCO -- A just-released poll of chief information officers predicts IT budgets will grow 9% over the next 12 months, up 2 points over August. Storage beat security software as the top spending priority.

Nearly half -- 48.4% -- of the respondents plan to increase spending on computer hardware, up from 42.3% in August. Positive sentiment at companies under 100 employees is at record levels.

STOCKHOLM – Mydata Automation will unveil next month what it is calling the first stencil-free printer. Seven years in the making, the MY500 jet printer will debut at Productronica in Munich next month.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – Several blue chip OEMs, including Dell, IBM, Intel , Lucent and Cisco, have launched a technical committee to standardize processes for making power supplies, air movement equipment (fans), cables, connectors, heatsinks and components.

The OEM Critical Components Committee has identified several key components that impact their business.es but lack globally accepted quality and manufacturing process standards. The committee was formed under the auspices of IPC, the trade group.

The committee will work first on air movement devices. A draft has been proposed and is expected to be released early next year.

SAN JOSE – Worldwide sales of semiconductors increased sharply in August to $18.6 billion, up 3.2% from July and 1.7% over last year, the Semiconductor Industry Association reported today.

Year-to-date semiconductor sales are up 5.8%, SIA reported, and on a record pace.

TEMPE, AZ — Economic activity in the manufacturing sector grew in September for the 28th consecutive month, while the overall economy grew for the 47th consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest poll taken by ISM.

Beginning October 2, Circuits Assembly is seeking participants for its 14th annual Service Excellence Awards (SEAs) for Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) providers and Electronics Assembly Equipment, Material and Software suppliers.

The SEAs honor companies in electronics manufacturing for excelling in the critical area of customer service. The program also allows participants to benchmark themselves against peers in terms of customer satisfaction.

“We are proud of the decade-long recognition we’ve received from Circuits Assembly magazine and its Service Excellence Awards program,” said Karen Vincent, Director of Sales & Program Management, at previous winner MassTech EMS. “The awards both validate and raise awareness of our commitment to delivering outstanding services in engineering and creative supply chain solutions that help customers reach their larger business goals. What means most to us is that the awards reflect our clients’ perspective on our services. We look forward to participating in this program year after year.”

Customers are surveyed to determine a participating company's level of customer satisfaction in various categories, including: dependability/timely delivery; ease of use; manufacturing quality; responsiveness to requests and changes; technology; and value for the price. All customer responses and ratings are tabulated by a third party and provided in a confidential report to the participating company.

This year, Circuits Assembly will recognize three categories of EMS providers based on revenues (under $100 million; $100 million to $500 million; $500 million and over) and the following categories of suppliers: dispensing; pick-and-place; repair and rework; screen printing; test and inspection; materials (solder paste); and manufacturing or supply chain management software.

Circuits Assembly will honor winners during Apex 2006 in Anaheim, CA. Proceeds from the program help fund the SMTA's Charles Hutchins Educational Grant.

For more information, contact Circuits Assembly associate editor Robin Norvell at rnorvell@upmediagroup.com or visit circuitsassembly.com/cms/sea.