BANNOCKBURN, IL – A task force of US PWB fabricators has published a list of policy recommendations for the US Department of Defense to ensure the US has the technical expertise and capacity to meet future military requirements.
The most pressing of the six recommendations is for the DoD to source non-critical technology domestically to support a robust and technically advanced domestic supply base.
 
”Businesses diversify their projects to ensure that volatile market fluctuations don’t result in devastating financial losses or closure of the facility,” said task force member Mike Moisan of TTM Technologies in a statement. “Access to less complex PCBs for DoD use will provide manufacturers with sustained, predictable financial support, ensuring stability within a dependable, consistent and secure supply base for the DoD.”
 
Other policy recommendations from the task force:
▪ Creation of a DoD-funded PCB consortium to conduct research and development to ensure PWB manufacturers are able to supply and support future product needs of the DoD and OEMs.
▪ The DoD shall mandate that prime contractors submit a circuit board technology GAP analysis in their formal bids to the DoD to ascertain what is feasible, and dedicate R&D funding for technologically limited areas.
▪ Transparent information on DoD funding, as well as creation of tax incentives, rebates, and/or credits for PCB manufacturers that supply the DoD will significantly renew interest and investment by US-based companies.
▪ The DoD should enforce compliance with current standards, such as military, ITAR and IPC standards adopted by the DoD, to ensure trust of PCBs intended for the DoD.
▪ Prime contractors working on DoD programs must be involved in and actively participate in the development of PWB technology roadmaps.
 
Other task force members include senior officers of Colonial Circuits; DDi; EIT Inc.; Hunter Technology; IMI Inc.; Sanmina-SCI; TTM, and Vulcan Flex Circuits. The group was brought together under the auspices of IPC.
 
The DoD recently designated the US Navy’s Crane, IN, branch as its PCB Executive Agent in charge of strengthening national defense readiness. The appointment is being confirmed.
 
The complete document on policy recommendations is at ipc.org/pcb-competitiveness.