Apr 28, 2003
�IPC effectively created a first-class event that provided PCB designers the most appropriate arena for thinking outside the box with fellow designers,� said Rick Hartley, chairman of the IPC Designers Council. �Designers were also able to associate with the top-notch process engineers and �pick the brains� of those individuals who actually produce their products.�
More than 220 PCB designers assembled in Long Beach to participate in the abundant activities that the all-new summit provided. CAD experts from Mentor Graphics taught designers several ways to influence design elements, without sacrificing performance to reduce costs through three interactive hands-on workshops.
The off-site applied training courses, which were held at TTM Technologies, Inc., and Pro-Tech, Inc., focused on Design for Manufacture and covered design parameters and future design philosophies. Attendees were able to directly examine the processes, observe the chemistries and handle the end product through a series of lectures, a panel discussion and two facility tours. Post-show feedback reported that this segment was well received, with 94 percent of respondents stating their plans to attend future off-site applied training sessions.
All facets of the Designers Council Summit, from the technical conference�s design track to the two keynote addresses, were so successful that IPC plans to hold the second annual Designers Council Summit in 2004 at the co-located IPC Printed Circuits Expo and IPC SMEMA Council�s APEX exhibition and conference in Anaheim, Calif.
�All in all, the inaugural event was extremely informative and productive for PCB designers of all backgrounds and experiences,� added Hartley. �It will be interesting to see how impressive the sequel is next year, when the entire supply chain assembles at one time, in one location.�
For more information, contact Stephannie Caliendo, IPC Designers Council program manager, at calist@ipc.org or 847-790-5302.
About the IPC Designers Council
The IPC Designers Council is a professional society of designers forming an international network. Its mission is to promote printed board and printed board assembly design as a profession and to encourage, facilitate and promote the exchange of information and integration of new design concepts through communications, seminars, workshops and professional certification through a network of local chapters. Founded in 1992, the Designers Council now serves more than 1,100 members and has certified 1,600 designers. For more information, visit http://dc.ipc.org.
About IPC
IPC is a Northbrook, Ill.-based trade association dedicated to the competitive excellence and financial success of its more than 2,300 member companies, which represent all facets of the electronic interconnection industry, including design, printed circuit board manufacturing and electronics assembly. As a member-driven organization and leading source for industry standards, training, market research and public policy advocacy, IPC supports programs to meet the needs of a $40 billion U.S. industry employing more than 350,000 people. IPC maintains offices in Taos, N.M.; Washington, D.C.; Garden Grove, Calif.; and Shanghai, China. For more information, visit http://www.ipc.org.
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