HERNDON, VA  — The International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative begins preliminary work on its next industry roadmap in Chicago next month. Product Emulator Groups will hold their first industry-wide meeting Sept. 30, immediately following SMTA International.

The PEGs, as they are called, define the future technology needs of “product emulators” from seven sectors: automotive, aerospace/defense, consumer/portable, medical, netcom (network, datacom and telecom), office/large business systems and system-in-package. These product emulators provide an condensed representation of a product and permit companies to share needs without sharing proprietary product information. The product needs defined by each PEG are used to forecast trends for the numerous technology and infrastructure areas covered by the roadmap.

“The PEGs lay the foundation for our roadmap, and their work is critical to its success,” said Jim Arnold, iNEMI’s director of roadmapping and fellow of the technical staff for Motorola.  “We are holding this initial PEG meeting earlier than usual this cycle so that we can take advantage of the SMTA International venue to enlist broad industry involvement in this important part of the process." 

iNEMI membership is not required to participate in the roadmap initiative.

The next edition of the iNEMI roadmap will be issued in 2007. “Although the document will be developed throughout 2006, it will not be ‘published’ or available to industry until 2007,” Arnold said.  “We felt the name change would more accurately reflect the publication schedule.”

The PEG meeting will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 30 at the Donald Stephens Convention Center, room 11.

Those planning to attend should download a registration form.  Attendees must also register separately SMTAI.