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You are here: Home / Archives for Reliability Matters

Reliability Matters

Reliability Matters is a podcast on the subject of reliability of circuit assemblies. Reliability "best practices" and success stories are discussed. This podcast features interviews with experts in the electronic assembly industry.


All electronic production segments which effect product reliability are on the table. This includes contamination, coating, cleanliness assessment, inspection, building for harsh environments and more.

by Mike Konrad 2 Comments

RM 135: A Conversation with Dr. Zach Peterson about Board Design Best Practices

RM 135: A Conversation with Dr. Zach Peterson about Board Design Best Practices

A Conversation with Dr. Zach Peterson about Board Design Best Practices

In today’s increasingly connected and digital world, PCBs are the unsung heroes that power our devices, from smartphones to spacecraft. Yet, the art and science of designing these crucial components often go unnoticed. That’s where this episode comes in.

Today, I hope to shine a spotlight on the critical role PCBs play in modern technology and explore the best practices that drive innovation and reliability.

In this episode, I hope to unravel the mysteries of PCB design, tackle complex challenges, and unlock the secrets to creating high-performance, efficient, and reliable circuit boards. Whether you’re a seasoned PCB designer looking to sharpen your skills, a budding engineer eager to learn the ropes, or simply a tech enthusiast curious about the technology that shapes our lives, this episode has something for everyone.

Today, I will be joined by Dr. Zach Peterson. Zach is a well-known researcher and electronics designer. In 2017, he founded Northwest Engineering Solutions as a technology consultancy and has since grown the company into an innovative design and manufacturing house for advanced electronic products.

He conducted his Applied Physics Ph.D. research in ZnO random laser theory and stability and his M.Sc. Physics research in chemisorptive sensors for environmental monitoring at Portland State University. He also received his MBA (Leadership & Finance) from Adams State University.
His work has been published in over a dozen peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings, and he has written 2500+ technical articles on PCB design for a number of companies.

He is a member of IEEE Photonics Society, IEEE Electronics Packaging Society, American Physical Society, and the Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA). He previously served as a voting member on the INCITS Quantum Computing Technical Advisory Committee working on technical standards for quantum electronics, and he currently serves on the IEEE P31-86 Working Group focused on Port Interface Representing Photonic Signals Using SPICE-class Circuit Simulators.

If Zack looks familiar, you may recognize him from the Altium On-Track and Altium Academy video series and Podcasts.

Zach’s Contact Information:
Zachariah Peterson
contact@nwengineeringllc.com
https://www.nwengineeringllc.com/

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RM 134: 2023 Podcast Season Wrap-Up

RM 134: 2023 Podcast Season Wrap-Up

2023 Podcast Season Wrap-Up

On this episode, I have no guests as this is the final episode of the Reliability Matters Podcast for the 2023 season. Instead, let’s review what happened on the podcast this year.

A special thanks to my guests and listeners/viewers for making this podcast so successful.

 

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RM 133: Novel Wireless / Wearable ESD Monitoring

RM 133: Novel Wireless / Wearable ESD Monitoring

Novel Wireless / Wearable ESD Monitoring

We are all aware of the damage electrostatic discharge can wreak on components and electronic products. We mitigate ESD damage through various forms of monitoring. We wear wrist and heel straps, stand on ESD-safe flooring, utilize ESD work stations, and more. We even have ESD testing locations that will test a human standing on a specialized testing station. But what happens the moment that person steps off the tester?

My guests today are Dr. Daan Stevenson and Dr. Jonathan Tapson of IONA Tech, a manufacturer of a novel wearable ESD monitoring device that provides constant real time ESD monitoring.

Normally, I don’t talk about specific products on the show. We usually limit our conversations to best practices. This is a little bit of an exception to my normal rule. From time to time, a product is introduced that is so novel, it’s worthy of a conversation. And that’s the case here.

Dr. Daan Stevenson is the Chief Executive Officer of IONA Tech. Daan has a background in mechanical and aerospace engineering. During his doctoral research, he studied the high voltage charging of spacecraft, which are electrical capacitors in the same way that the human body is. While working to design an automated ground station for UAVs, he frequently damaged electrical components from electrostatic shocks. This motivated the creation of IONA Tech, with the goal of advancing technology in ESD mitigation.

My other guest is Dr. Jonathan Tapson, Chief Technology Officer of IONA Tech. Jonathan was Professor of Electrical Engineering at Western Sydney University before moving to Telluride Colorado in 2016. He spent his early career conducting sensor and instrumentation research, with a strong industrial focus. During this time he spun out three companies from his research, all of which are successful today. His specialties include low-noise circuits and systems design, mechatronic design and the integration of machine learning into real-time systems.

Contact Information:
Daan Stevenson
daan@iona.tech

Jonathan Tapson
jon@iona.tech

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RM 132: A Conversation about Ultra-Thin Conformal Coating with HZO’s Lisa Rizzo

RM 132: A Conversation about Ultra-Thin Conformal Coating with HZO’s Lisa Rizzo

A Conversation about Ultra-Thin Conformal Coating with HZO’s Lisa Rizzo

Today we’ll dive deep into the world of conformal coating.
More and more assemblies are being subjected to conformal coating to protect the assembly from harsh environments. What’s leading the drive to conformal coat electronic assemblies? What types of conformal coating options are available? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each type?
For circuit assemblies, the protective embrace of conformal coatings ensures reliability, longevity, and performance. As technologies advance, so does the demand for innovative solutions to safeguard our electronic products.

Whether you’re a seasoned industry professional, a curious tech enthusiast, or just someone who’s new to the world of conformal coatings, this episode is your go-to source for in-depth information on the growing trend of applying conformal coating to circuit assemblies.

So, join us as we peel back the layers, and immerse ourselves in the world of electronics protection, and learn how conformal coatings play a pivotal role in keeping our devices humming, even in the harshest environments.

To better understand conformal coating, I invited Lisa Rizzo to the show. Lisa is Senior Director of Strategy & Emerging Applications at HZO. HZO is a global leader & innovator in protective solutions that, according to them, “keep the world running”.

They provide products to markets including consumer electronics as well as high-reliability markets including automotive, industrial, medical, and IoT to deliver a more resilient, reliable, and durable level of protection. HZO specializes in nanocoating solutions that safeguard electronics, electrical products & critical applications in an ever-changing market.

Lisa Rizzo’s Contact Information:
lrizzo@hzo.com
https://www.hzo.com/

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RM 131: A Conversation with Industry Icon Bob Willis

RM 131: A Conversation with Industry Icon Bob Willis

A Conversation with Industry Icon Bob Willis

We are all aware of the supply chain issues our industry has faced. Beginning with electronic components, it has spread to so many other types of parts are industry relies on. Fortunately, it looks like we are beginning to come out the other end of the supply chain shortage.

But the supply chain problems have further spread to the labor market. If you are in a position to hire people for your company, you know firsthand how difficult that process can be today.

Adding to the level of labor acquisition difficulties is the great “Silver Tsunami”, otherwise known as the great retirement.

As I mentioned on our last episode, episode number 130, the fact is, baby boomers are entering retirement in greater numbers. According to government data, from now until 2030, 10,000 Baby Boomers each day will hit retirement age. Millions will begin to officially retire.

Some of these retirees are designated subject matter experts within their companies. Not only are people retiring, they are taking with them a vault of valuable knowledge.

This has created an even larger demand for consultants within our industry. I’ve had several industry consultants on my show over the last few years, including today’s guest.

And who is today’s Guest? Legendary industry consultant, Bob Willis. If you’ve been in this industry longer than 18 seconds, there’s a good chance you’ve at least heard his name. If you’ve been in this industry for virtually any length of time, there’s a good chance you’ve seen his videos, read his books, or watched him present at numerous industry conferences and symposiums. If I reviewed Bob’s complete professional biography, it would take an entire episode. Here’s my conversation with my friend and colleague, Bob Willis.

During our conversation, we discussed Bob’s newest book, “Robotic Soldering Inspection and Defect Guide”.

Anyone who makes a donation to Bob’s chosen charity will receive a download of his book as well as access to Bob’s complete book collection:

• Robotic Soldering Inspection and Defect Guide
• Pin in Hole Intrusive Reflow Desing, Assembly & Defect Guide
• Package On Package Assembly Inspection & Quality Control
• Solder Paste Print Inspection & Defect Guide
• Lead-Free Defect Guide 3
• Conformal Coating Inspection & Defect Guide
• QFN LGA Assembly Inspection & Defect Guide
• PCB Surface Finishes Inspection & Defect Guide
• Cleaning & Contamination Defect Guide

Click below for more information:
https://www.justgiving.com/page/bob-willis-roboticsolderingbook

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RM 130: Human-Centered Approaches to Innovation with Dr. Alexis Abramson

RM 130: Human-Centered Approaches to Innovation with Dr. Alexis Abramson

Human-Centered Approaches to Innovation with Dr. Alexis Abramson

Some of you may recall episode 121 where I spoke with Dr. John Mitchell, president and CEO of IPC about his new book “fire your hiring habits”. During that episode, we talked about best practices for hiring the best people. I’d like to travel a little bit up the river to talk about where potential candidates for hiring come from. While most of the people we interview for positions within our companies come from other companies, more and more, we are seeing new people enter our industry. We’ve talked a lot about the “silver tsunami” affecting our industry.

The fact is, baby boomers are entering retirement in greater numbers. From now until 2030, 10,000 Baby Boomers each day will hit retirement age. Millions will begin to officially retire. This is creating a terrific opportunity for young college graduates to enter our industry. Several years ago, I was a speaker at the SMTA, Pan Pacific strategic Electronics symposium in Hawaii. I shared my breakfast table with a longtime colleague, Dr. Ron Lasky, a professor at Dartmouth College. Over the course of breakfast, he asked me how I got into this industry and, more specifically, how I started my company. Dr. Lasky is an engineering professor at Dartmouth’s Thayre school of engineering. He also teaches entrepreneurship to his soon to be engineers. Doctor lasky invited me to come to Dartmouth and speak to his students. I was more than happy to take him up on his offer, and I have spoken to his students on the subject of entrepreneurship every year for the past several years.

I have been impressed by the emphasis on entrepreneurship within the Thayre school of engineering. We live in a time of marvelous evolution within the Electronics space. So many new and innovative electronic products are being introduced, fueled by IOT (Internet of things), the electrification of automobiles, advances in communication, and so much more.

Education is the bedrock of our industry. It is the foundation for which much of our industry and the products we make are built upon. I’ve had Dr. Lasky on my show several times, and I thought it would be a great idea to invite his boss, the dean of Dartmouth’s Thayre school of engineering onto the program.

Dr. Alexis Abramson is the 13th dean of Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth. Prior to joining Dartmouth, she was the Milton and Tamar Maltz Professor of Energy Innovation at Case Western Reserve University and served as a director of the university’s Great Lakes Energy Institute focused on creating sustainable energy technology solutions. During the Obama administration, Dr. Abramson served as chief scientist and manager of the Emerging Technologies Division at the US Department of Energy’s Building Technologies Program. In 2018, she served as technical adviser for Breakthrough Energy Ventures, a $1 billion effort launched by Bill Gates to combat human-driven climate change. Abramson’s research has focused on novel techniques for thermal characterization of nanostructures, the design and synthesis of unique nanomaterials for use in alternative energy applications, virtual energy audits for building energy efficiency, and strategies to accelerate technology commercialization at universities and research institutions.

Dr. Abramson earned a BS and MS in Mechanical Engineering from Tufts University and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley.

https://engineering.dartmouth.edu

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RM 129: Network Reliability – Avoiding Cyber-Security Threats

RM 129: Network Reliability – Avoiding Cyber-Security Threats

Network Reliability – Avoiding Cyber-Security Threats

We talk almost exclusively about reliability on this show. Specifically, reliability of circuit assemblies. We discuss production best practices, design for manufacturing and reliability. Failure analysis, and more. We’ve reviewed the latest tends in industry 4.0, the connectivity of machine to machine and machine to management. We discussed big data and how to make all of our newly acquired data relevant and actionable. For all this to occur, our computers must function properly. They must preform the assigned tasks and communicate large sums of data. What happens to our production line if the computers stop functioning? What would happen if our network ceases to operate?

We’ve all witnessed the airline industry grind to a halt recently due to computer failures and connectivity issues. The fact is, very few industries can function properly or even at all if the computer systems fail.

I’m not referring to quality issues within the computer or network’s internal circuit assemblies. I’m referring to malware, ransomware, and other nefarious actions brought on hackers with the intent to disrupt companies, industries, and governments, frequently with the goal of returning (or promising to return) your own data in exchange for an exorbitant payment.

Our industry, like many others is completely dependent on computers and connectivity. Without ether, most production lines will simply sit idle.

How can we avoid this terrifying scenario? How do hackers gain access to our computers and networks? How can we add reliability to our computer and network policies and procedures? To answer these and other related questions, I invited a network security expert on the show. Adrian Francoz, co-founder and CEO of Zeta Sky, a managed IT support and cyber security services company lives in the world of cyber security. He and his company protect their customer’s networks through the implementation of security best practices and constant training, both for his customers, and for his own staff. After all, as I speak, hackers and other bad actors are hard at work searching for the next scam, vulnerability, and the opportunity to score a huge payday, all at our expense.

In the Southern California area? Consider attending the inland Empire cyber security summit on Thursday, October 26 at the Chaffey College InTech Center, 9400 Cherry Ave, Bldg A Fontana, CA 92335.

Register here:

Inland Empire Cyber Security Summit 2023

Adrian’s Contact Information:
info@zetasky.com
https://www.zetasky.com

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RM 128: Industry Standards Explained with Leo Lambert

RM 128: Industry Standards Explained with Leo Lambert

Industry Standards Explained with Leo Lambert

Those of us in the electronic assembly space are no doubt aware of standards. In the simplest terms, standards tell us how to build products correctly. They differentiate correct from incorrect. They tell us what type of materials to use, how a solder joint is determined to be acceptable. Standards tell us how to test various parts of our assembly.

How are the standards derived? Who determines what the standards are? How often are they updated?

To answer these and other questions, I invited Leo Lambert onto the show.

Leo is the author of several publications, including “Soldering for Electronic Assemblies”, published by Marcel Dekker in 1987. He has published and presented numerous papers relative to the subject of Soldering and Cleaning at various Technical Seminars and Exhibitions worldwide.

Leo Developed, published, and conducted seminars entitled Deadline to Lead Free Seminars and Thriving in a RoHS/WEEE Environment.

Leo received the IPC President’s Award in 1989 for work conducted on solderable coatings for printed wiring boards.

He is an IPC Hall of Fame recipient, Charter Member on UNEP (United Nation Environmental Program) Technical Solvent Options Committee, where he overseed the worldwide activities in reducing CFC’s from use as cleaning material in Electronic Manufacturing resulting in the publication of the Montreal Protocol, an international treaty banning certain CFC-based materials.

Leo is a Member of ICOLP (Industry Cooperative for Ozone Layer Protection). Leo is a recognized expert in standards and, he’s my guest today on this episode of the Reliability Matters Podcast.

Leo’s Contact Information:
Leo Lambert
leo@eptac.com
https://www.eptac.com

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RM 127: Ask the Experts – A Conversation with Phil Zarrow & Jim Hall

RM 127: Ask the Experts – A Conversation with Phil Zarrow & Jim Hall

Ask the Experts – A Conversation with Phil Zarrow & Jim Hall

Welcome to another episode of the Reliability Matters podcast. For those of you keeping track, this is episode number 127.

In recent episodes, we’ve covered high-level issues, such as hiring best practices, novel, training, methods, design for manufacturing, highly accelerated, life, testing, and more. On this episode, we’re going to go back to the basics. What common problems are assemblers experiencing today? What are the basics of assembly best practices? Which problems seem to live in perpetuity?

To answer these and other questions, I’ve invited two of my favorite experts on to the show. If you’ve been in the electronic assembly industry for some amount of time, there’s little doubt you’ve heard of Phil Zarrow and Jim Hall. Phil has been involved with PCB fabrication and assembly for more than 36 years. Phil is the President and Principal Consultant of ITM Consulting. Jim Hall has been involved in the electronic assembly industry for the past 27 years. He’s a principal consultant and resident Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt with ITM Consulting. He’s also an instructor in the Lean Six Sigma programs offered at Dartmouth College. Together with Dr. Ron Lasky, Phil and Jim designed the SMTA’s SMT Processes Certification Course.

A couple of years ago, Phil and Jim published a book in titled “troubleshooting electronic assemblies, tales from the board talk crypt”. I’ll talk to them more about that book later in this broadcast.

Phil and Jim host the popular audio series “Board Talk” a question and answer show hosted on the Circuit-Insight website. On their show, you’ll hear serious questions, and often comical but real answers.

Phil Zarrow’s Contact Info:
phil_zarrow@itmconsulting.com

Jim Hall’s Contact Info:
jim_hall@itmconsulting.com

ITM Consulting:

Home

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RM 126: Moisture Mitigation Strategies with Dan Jenkins and Rob Lowery

RM 126: Moisture Mitigation Strategies with Dan Jenkins and Rob Lowery

Moisture Mitigation Strategies with Dan Jenkins and Rob Lowery

Moisture. The industrial world has been fighting moisture since the beginning of the industrial world. From a general point of view, moisture leads to issues such as • Mold and mildew • Rust • Wood rot • Damage to building materials • Microbial growth • And so much more.

In the electronics world, moisture creates a host of reliability problems including:
• Popcorning
• Delamination of conformal coating
• Corrosion • Electrochemical migration
• Adhesion degradation (such as on labels and glues)
• And more

I wanted to dive into moisture mitigation, so I invited two guests onto my show to discuss this very topic.

Dan Jenkins is sales manager and partner of the Steel Camel, an industrial solutions company specializing in corrosion and water intrusion control for fuel systems and industrial equipment. Prior to Steel Camel, Dan worked as consultant and instructor in the crane accident prevention industry. He has consulted to large organizations such as Shell Oil, and the United States Department of Interior.

Dan earned an MBA from the University of South Florida and earned his BA in Industrial Arts / Technology from Cal St. University Chico and his Post Secondary Teaching Credential from San Francisco State University.

Bob Lowry has both BS and MS degrees in Chemistry. His experience includes 31 years as Sr. Scientist and Lab Manager for three integrated circuit manufacturing companies, where measurement of moisture and moisture control activities were a major part of services he provided.

Dan has 20 years of experience consulting to the microelectronics industry on a wide variety of topics including materials analysis and measurements and methods of moisture control for electronic components. Bob is also the co-author of the book Hermeticity of Electronic Packages.

Dan Jenkins’ Contact Info:
djenkins@steelcamel.com
https://www.steelcamel.com/

Bob Lowry’s Contact Info:
rlowry98@aol.com

 

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RM 125: DFM Best Practices with Pride Industries’ Engineering Manager Andrew Williams

RM 125: DFM Best Practices with Pride Industries’ Engineering Manager Andrew Williams

DFM Best Practices with Pride Industries’ Engineering Manager Andrew Williams

As all of you are well aware, this show is all about reliability, specifically reliability of circuit assemblies. One challenge that seems to be persistent within our space is design for manufacturability or DFM. If you’re a contract manufacturer, I have no doubt that you’ve had the experience of being asked to build a product that seems unbuildable. One example that rings true in my world was the introduction of bottom terminated components or BTC’s. BTC’s are marvelous components.

Because all the lead terminations are below the part, they allow for highly dense component placement and highly miniaturized assemblies. They also presented a number of unique challenges in reflow, in many cases voiding, cleaning, and inspection. Like many other industries, we are not immune to the introduction of new technologies that may lack implementation knowledge. We then spend the next several years at technical conferences and symposiums learning us how to implement these new technologies. There are many acronyms in our industry that begin with DF…

Design for testability, mechanical assembly, serviceability, reliability, and so many more. So many in fact, that there is a placeholder acronym for all of the various design fours refer to as DFx. Perhaps the holy grail of DFx is DFM, Design for Manufacturability as it encompasses so many aspects of assembly.

To help us understand what exactly is DFM, I invited Andrew Williams to be my guest on this episode. Andrew Williams is the Engineering Manager for Electronics Manufacturing at PRIDE Industries. He has more than 30 years of experience in manufacturing and design and holds an SMT Process Engineer certification from SMTA and an IPC Certified Electronics Program Manager. Andrew is a guest lecturer at UC Davis and Cal State University Sacramento for Supply Chain Management, Operations, and TQM courses, and speaks frequently on DFM, DFS, and other DFX topics and today, he’s my guest on the Reliability Matters Podcast.

Andrew’s Contact Information:
Pride Industries
andrew.williams@prideindustries.com

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RM 124: Industry Icon Dave Hillman’s Amazing 3,600 Mile Kayak Journey Down the Missouri River

RM 124: Industry Icon Dave Hillman’s Amazing 3,600 Mile Kayak Journey Down the Missouri River

Industry Icon Dave Hillman’s Amazing 3,600 Mile Kayak Journey Down the Missouri River

Industry icon Dave Hillman completed a 3,600 mile solo kayak journey down the Missouri River. I spoke with Dave about the inspiration for the journey, insights gained over his four-month expedition, and how his experience as an engineer helped him prepare for this epic experience.

This video features many photographs taken by Dave Hillman on his 3600 mile kayak journey.

 

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RM 123: Introduction to HALT – Highly Accelerated Life Testing with Dr. Christopher Jackson

RM 123: Introduction to HALT – Highly Accelerated Life Testing with Dr. Christopher Jackson

Introduction to HALT – Highly Accelerated Life Testing with Dr. Christopher Jackson

We all strive to build products that are reliable. If you’re listening to our watching this podcast, chances are you are concerned about or at least interested in reliability. Where does reliability start? Who is responsible for reliability? What types of reliability testing can be performed? My guest on this episode will help answer these and other reliability-based questions.

My guest today is Dr. Christopher Jackson. Dr Chris Jackson is a leader, engineer and logistic specialist who has helped many organizations work towards realizing business goals through improving the reliability of their products and processes. He is cofounder of online training company IS4, founder of Acuitis Reliability, established the Center for the Safety and Reliability of Autonomous Systems (SARAS) at UCLA after retiring as a lieutenant colonel having served 17 years in the Australian Army, where he was the Senior Reliability Engineer. Dr Jackson completed his PhD in Reliability Engineering at the University of Maryland in 2011.

Dr Jackson authored multiple reliability and management textbooks and teaches both professional education courses and post-graduate courses. Industries he has helped range from small satellites through to military vehicles. Dr Jackson is a Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE) through the American Society of Quality (ASQ), a member of the Institute of Engineers, Australia (MIEAust) and a Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng).

Chris was a guest on this podcast back in June of 2020 (episide 45) and I’m thrilled to have him back as my guest today.

Dr. Jackson’s Contact Information:
chris.jackson@acuitas.com
https://www.acuitas.com

 

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RM 122: The Integration of AI Into Inspection Systems

RM 122: The Integration of AI Into Inspection Systems

The Integration of AI Into Inspection Systems

When it comes to circuit assemblies, there are defects, which result in one of two situations. The preferred result of a defect is to capture it on your factory floor and repair it before it ships to the customer. The second scenario is referred to as an escape. That’s when the board ships to the customer and fails in the field. This is a scenario, all assemblers dread and strive to prevent. One way to prevent escapes is through the use of automated inspection or AOI systems.

My guests today are Arif Virani, Chief Operating Officer and co-founder of Darwin AI, and Bart Piwowar, CTO of Darwin AI, a manufacturer of innovative inspection systems.

Arif Virani is a technology leader with over 20 years of experience in the industry. As Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of DarwinAI, he spearheads the company’s mission to transform manufacturing with a new standard for quality inspection using AI. DarwinAI’s solutions have been implemented at the top Electronics Manufacturers to increase quality and efficiency, while reducing waste. DarwinAI was selected by CBInsights for its AI 100 annual list of the 100 most promising private AI companies in the world in both 2020 and 2021.

Before founding DarwinAI, Arif had a successful career in management consulting at McKinsey & Company, where he advised F500 enterprises on technology investments and transformation. He led several technology-enabled programs, including building and commercializing data and analytics capabilities. Arif started his career working as a software developer at various technology companies. In addition to his work at DarwinAI, Arif is an Advisory Board Member of NGEN Canada’s AI for Manufacturing Initiative. He has a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and a Bachelor’s in Applied Science (Computer Engineering) from the University of Waterloo.

Bart Piwowar is an experienced Product Leader, leading high performing product teams driven by data to deliver solutions that solve customer’s problems. He has spent many years leading data science teams, applying Innovation methodologies, and working with emerging technologies to bring solutions in many disciplines. He graduated from University of Waterloo with a degree in Physics and Computing and later followed with an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University.
Bart’s career interests range from AI product development, decision science and entrepreneurship.

I met Arif earlier this year at the IPC APEX Expo in San Diego California when he introduced me to his company’s automated inspection system.

Needless to say, I was truly impressed with their technology and I’m thrilled to have him as my guest on this episode of the podcast.

Contact Information:
Arif Virani
arif@darwinai.ca
https://darwinai.com/
Darwin AI’s YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@DarwinAI

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Reliability Matters

by Mike Konrad Leave a Comment

RM 121: Dr. John Mitchell discusses his new book “Fire Your Hiring Habits”

RM 121: Dr. John Mitchell discusses his new book “Fire Your Hiring Habits”

Dr. John Mitchell discusses his new book “Fire Your Hiring Habits”

Most of us are well aware of the supply chain shortages, both within our industry and well beyond. Some of us are also keenly aware of labor shortages. This show is all about reliability of circuit assemblies. While reliability is often referred to as a process, it is also rooted in culture.

Reliability begins with people. So, instead of talking about common reliability, subjects, such as voiding, soldering materials, assembly, best practices, and the plethora of other usual suspect topics,
I thought it would be a good idea to talk about people. After all, as I said, reliability begins with people.
My guest today is Dr. John Mitchell. Many of you know John as the president and CEO of IPC, one of our industries largest trade associations. John has recently written a book, entitled fire your hiring habits. I have to admit, the title is quite intriguing.

Here’s a little background on John. Since 2012, Dr. John Mitchell has served as president and CEO of IPC, a not-for-profit trade association driving competitive advantage for more than 3,000 companies across the globe. Leading the global operations and staff, John manages the creation and execution of the Board of Director’s goals.

Under his leadership, IPC has essentially doubled the total company membership globally as well increased the acceptance of standards by over 50 percent. John led the charge for IPC’s Online Certification Portal and the company’s overhaul of it Member Success department. His efforts served to improve relations with members and helped move the needle on positive regulatory change.

Prior to IPC, John was an engineer with General Electric Aerospace and was a founding member of Alpine Electronic’s research company—which pioneered modern navigation systems in the U.S. OEM market. John himself holds a patent in GPS navigation systems. John then served as general manager/director of the largest product development initiative in Bose Corporation’s history. He went on to become CEO of Golden Key International Society, the noted collegiate honor society serving over two-million members.

John earned his doctorate in higher education management from University of Georgia’s Institute of Higher Education, a Master of Business Administration from Pepperdine University, and a Bachelor of Science in electrical and computer engineering from Brigham Young University. In addition to his work with IPC, John is an in-demand speaker and the author of two books so far (sounds like more books may be in the works… I need to ask him about that!).

Fire Your Hiring Habits is available at most book sellers including Amazon:https://tinyurl.com/fire-your-hiring-habits

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Reliability Matters

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Reliability Matters podcast logo

A podcast discussing the reliability of circuit assemblies.


by Mike Konrad
Hosted on Spreaker.com
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Recent Episodes

RM 165: Stencil Design and Manufacturing Best Practices with Elias Malfavon Jr.

RM 164: AI Integrated Supply Chain Management Software with Sebastian Schaal

RM 163: Battery Selection and Safety Best Practices with Alex Norman

RM 162: Electronics Testing Best Practices with Robert Boguski

RM 161: AI-Based Inspection Technologies with Priyansha Bagaria

RM 160: Opportunities and Challenges within the EV Industry

RM 159: 2024 Season Wrap-Up of the Reliability Matters Podcast

RM 158: The New Kids in Town – The Cast of the D-Code Podcast

RM 157: What’s On Your Workbench? Critical Steps to Avoid Contamination of PCA’s During the Rework Process

RM 156: An Introduction to Flexible Circuits with Joseph Fjelstad

RM155: Ultra HDI Panel Discussion – Recorded Live at SMTA!

RM154: Thermal Profiling Best Practices

RM 153: Contract Manufacturing Best Practices with Adrian Leal

RM 152: High-Reliability Solder Paste Selection Best Practices

RM 151: Optical Inspection System Best Practices

RM 150: The Truth Behind Statistics

RM 149: AOI and X-Ray Best Practices

RM 148: IPC Apex Special

RM 147: IPC Apex Special

RM 146: IPC Apex Special

RM 145: Designing Electronics to be Reliable in Harsh Environments

RM 144: A Conversation with Indium’s Rick Short about Education-Based Marketing

RM 143: A Candid Conversation with Industry Icon Doug Pauls

RM 142: Live from SMTA’s Pan Pacific Strategic Electronics Symposium (PanPac)

RM 141: Component Tape Splicing Best Practices with Larry (The Professor) Welk

RM 140: Circuit Board Design and Acquisition Best Practices

RM 139: Environmentally Responsible Alternatives to Traditional PCB Fabrication

RM 138: Hand Soldering and Rework Best Practices with Debbie Wade

RM 137: Building a Sustainable Career with a Sustainable Impact

RM 136: Environmentally Responsible / Sustainable Conformal Coating with Dr. Cassandra Zentner

RM 135: A Conversation with Dr. Zach Peterson about Board Design Best Practices

RM 134: 2023 Podcast Season Wrap-Up

RM 133: Novel Wireless / Wearable ESD Monitoring

RM 132: A Conversation about Ultra-Thin Conformal Coating with HZO’s Lisa Rizzo

RM 131: A Conversation with Industry Icon Bob Willis

RM 130: Human-Centered Approaches to Innovation with Dr. Alexis Abramson

RM 129: Network Reliability – Avoiding Cyber-Security Threats

RM 128: Industry Standards Explained with Leo Lambert

RM 127: Ask the Experts – A Conversation with Phil Zarrow & Jim Hall

RM 126: Moisture Mitigation Strategies with Dan Jenkins and Rob Lowery

RM 125: DFM Best Practices with Pride Industries’ Engineering Manager Andrew Williams

RM 124: Industry Icon Dave Hillman’s Amazing 3,600 Mile Kayak Journey Down the Missouri River

RM 123: Introduction to HALT – Highly Accelerated Life Testing with Dr. Christopher Jackson

RM 122: The Integration of AI Into Inspection Systems

RM 121: Dr. John Mitchell discusses his new book “Fire Your Hiring Habits”

RM 120: Making Reliability Training Entertaining and Effective

RM 119: Quantum Mechanics Explained

RM 118: Making “Big Data” Useful with Intraratio’s Ryan Gamble

RM 117: When Residues Cause Circuit Assemblies to Fail

RM 116: Supply Chain Musings

RM 115: Making Sense of “Big Data”

RM 114: The Remarkable Return of the Post-Reflow Cleaning Process

RM 113: A Conversation about Counterfeit Component Detection with Dr. Eyal Weiss

RM Special Episode: A Conversation about Business Challenges with STI Electronics’ President David Raby

RM 112: A Conversation about ESD Mitigation with ESD Expert Christopher Almeras

RM 111: Liquid Metal’s Potential Future in Electronics

RM 110: A Wrap-Up of the Reliability Matters 2022 Season

RM 109: A Decade of Industry 4.0 – What it Was – What it Wasn’t

RM 108: A Preview of the Upcoming SMTA Pan Pacific Microelectronics Symposium

RM 107: IPC Validation Services & the Trusted Supplier Program

RM 106: A Conversation about Production Automation

RM 105: Conformal Coating Material Selection Best Practices

RM Special Episode: A Sneak Peak at the SMTAI Technical Conference with the Technical Committee

RM 104: A Conversation about ESD Flooring with Thomas Ricciardelli

RM 103: SMT Assembly Equipment for Low Volume Applications

RM 102: Contract Manufacturer Selection Process Best Practices

RM 101: Forging the Future of US Manufacturing with IPC’s Matt Kelly

RM 100: A 100th Episode Special (Recorded Live)

RM 099: A Conversation about the IPC Cleanliness Standard & How to Comply with Graham Naisbitt

RM 098: A Conversation with AIM Solder’s Jen Fijalkowski About Advances in Solder Pastes

RM 097: Best Practices for Purchasing X Ray Equipment

RM 096: A Conversation with Industry Gurus Phil Zarrow and Jim Hall about their New Book

RM 095: A Conversation with SMTA SMT Certification Course Authors Dr. Ron Lasky and Jim Hall

RM 094: A Conversation with Author Dr. Ron Lasky About His Many Books

RM 093: A Conversation with Dr. Kunal Shah about Ni-Less ENIG & the Improvements in Reliability

RM 092: Conversations from IPC APEX Expo – Reflow Thermal Control – Automated Device Programming

RM 091: Conversations from IPC APEX Expo – Inspection Systems – Contract Assembly – and Pirates!

RM 090: A Conversation with Component Storage Expert Mike Adamson

RM 089: A Conversation About Tombstoning Mitigation with Tony Lentz

RM 088: A Conversation about Electric Vehicles with Indium’s Brian O’Leary

RM 087: A Conversation with SPI and AOI Inspection Expert Joel Scutchfield

RM 086: A Conversation with IPC Training Expert Bob Doetzer

RM 085: 2021 Reliability Matters Episode Wrap-Up

RM 084: A Conversation about Solder Paste Inspection with Christopher Frederickson

RM 083: A Conversation with Thermal Management Expert Miles Moreau

RM 082: A Conversation with Solder Paste Expert Paul Salerno

RM 081: IPC APEX Expo 2022 Technical Program

RM 080: A Conversation with Cheryl Tulkoff & Greg Caswell

RM 079: A Conversation with Arch Systems’ Dave Trail about Industry 4.0

RM 078: SMTAI is Back LIVE!

RM 077: A Conversation with James Kovacevic about Maintenance Reliability Training

RM 076: Meet the Press

RM 075: Matric Group’s Patrick Stimpert on Lean Manufacturing with a “Lean-In” Philosophy

RM 074: A Conversation about Contract Manufacturing with Worthington Assembly’s Chris Denney

RM 073: A Conversation with Solder Paste Expert Tim Jensen of Indium

RM 072: A Conversation About Thermal Profiling with ECD’s Mark Waterman

RM 071: A Conversation with Manufacturer’s Representatives About Sales and Support Post Covid 19

RM 070: A Conversation with Nano Dimension’s Co-Founder Amit Dror

RM 069: Part 2 of an Interview with Me (Mike Konrad) on the Pick-Place Podcast with Chris Denney and Melissa Hough

RM 068: An Interview with Me (Mike Konrad) on the Pick-Place Podcast with Chris Denney and Melissa Hough

RM 067: A Conversation with Rework/Repair Expert Norman Mier of Best Inc.

RM 066: A Conservation with Dr. Ron Lasky and His Students Annaka Balch, Nadia Clement, and Raaga Kannan

RM 065: Part 2 of our Conversation with Tim O’Neill and Fred Dimock on Oven Profiling

RM 064: A Conservation with Tim O’Neill and Fred Dimock

RM 063: A Conversation with and a Presentation by Reliability Expert Dock Brown

RM 062: A Conversation with Cogiscan’s Co-Founder François Monette

RM Special Edition: A Conversation with IPC’s Chief Technologist Matt Kelly about IPC APEX Expo 2021

RM 061: A Conversation with Flex Circuit and Additive Electronics Expert Tara Dunn

RM 060: A Conversation with Rockwell Collins’ Dave Hillman about Solder Voiding

RM 059: A Conversation with CMOS Inventor Dr. Eric Fossom

RM 058: 2020 Round-Up

RM 057: A Conversation with CAF Expert Graham Naisbitt

RM 056: A Conversation about Solder Voiding with Solder Materials, Stencil, and Cleaning Experts

RM 055: A Conversation with SMTA President Dr. Martin Anselm

RM 054: A Conversation with Michael Ford about Digital Twin

RM 053: Meet the Press – A Conversation with Industry Journalists about the State of the EMS Industry

RM 052: A Conversation with Conformal Coating Expert Dr. Sean Clancy of HZO

RM 051: A Conversation with X-Ray Expert and Entrepreneur Dr. Bill Cardoso

RM 050: A Conversation with IPC’s Matt Kelly on IPC Technology Focus & Investment

RM 049: A Conversation with SMTA’s Tanya Martin and Greg Vance about SMTAI 2020

RM 048: A Conversation with a China Supply Chain Expert about Importing from and Exporting to China

RM 047: A Conversation with Environmental Sustainability Expert Matthew Chalkley

RM 046: “The Experts” – A Special Episode Featuring a Conversation with Four Industry Experts

RM 045: A Conversation with Dr. Chris Jackson About Reliability

RM 044: A Conversation with Dr. Jennie Hwang About Reliability

RM 043: A Conversation with Cal State University’s Dr. Mike Stull

RM 042: A Conversation with X-Ray Expert Keith Bryant

RM 041: A Conversation with Better Board Buying’s Greg Papandrew

RM 040: A Return Conversation with SMT Guru Bob Willis

RM 039: A Conversation with Advanced Assembly’s Mark Hughes and Greg Ziraldo About Producing Reliable Assemblies Within a CM Environment

RM 038: A Special COVID-19 Episode – Conversation with Circuits Assembly Magazine’s Editor in Chief Mike Buetow

RM 037: A Conversation with IPC’s President and CEO Dr. John Mitchell

RM 036: A Conversation with “Board Talk” hosts Phil Zarrow and Jim Hall

RM 035: A Conversation with Dr. Darren Williams of Sam Houston State University

RM 034: A Conversation with “The Cleaning Lady and the Rocket Scientist” Barbara and Ed Kanegsberg

RM 033: Altium’s Judy Warner Interviews Reliability Matter’s Host Mike Konrad on the Subject of Cleaning for Reliability

RM 032: A Conversation with Greg Smith and Tony Lentz About Stencil Design and Void Reduction

RM 031: A Conversation with Scoop’s Phil Stoten

RM 030: A Conversation About Reflow Technology with Guest David Heller

RM 029: A Return Conversation with Foresite’s Lead Investigator Eric Camden

RM 028: Part 2 – A Conversation with IPC’s Brook Sandy about the IPC APEX EXPO’s Technical Program

RM 027: Part 1 – A Conversation with IPC’s Brook Sandy about the IPC APEX EXPO

RM 026 – An Interview with Ventec’s Technology Ambassador Alun Morgan

RM 025 – An interview with Indium’s Kay Parker about SMT Printing and Being New in the Electronics Assembly Industry

RM 024 – A Conversation with Teradyne’s Reliability Experts Mark Levin and Jon Rodin

RM 023 – A Conversation About Testing Circuit Assemblies with Datest Founder Robert Boguski Jr.

RM 022 – A Conversation About Adhesion Testing with BTG Lab’s Materials Scientist Elizabeth Kidd

RM 021- A Conversation with Manuel Schöllig – There’s More to Clean than just Assemblies

RM 020- A Conversation with Conformal Coating Expert Phil Kinner

RM 019- A Conversation about Display Technologies and Reliability-Improving Production Methods

RM 018 – A Conversation with Saturn Electronics’ Yash Sutariya about PCB Fabrication

RM 017 – A Conversation with Brian D’Amico about AOI and SPI Best Practices

RM 016 – Lessons Learned from a Contract Manufacturer & Their Customer Who Sued Them

RM 015 – Scoop TV Interviews Mike Konrad

RM 014 – An Interview with Reliability Expert Fred Schenkelberg

RM 013 – A Conversation with KIC’s MB Allen About Thermal Management and Reliability

RM 012 – An Interview with FLITE’s Michelle Ogihara and Sherry Stepp

RM 011 Tips and Tricks for Successfully Cleaning Circuit Assemblies

RM 010 An Interview with Dr. David Bernard – All About X-Ray Inspection

RM 009 An Interview with Dr. Mike Bixenman about Cleaning Challenges, Chemicals, Components, and Cleanliness Testing

RM 008 Cleaning Roundtable

RM 007 A Conversation with ITM Consulting’s Phil Zarrow and Jim Hall

RM 006 An Interview with Collins Aerospace’s Doug Pauls

RM 005 An Interview with Dr. Craig Hillman – Design for Reliability

RM 004 Improving Reliability of Circuit Assemblies in Harsh Environments

RM 003 An Interview with Johns Hopkins’ APL Engineer, Wendy Casker

RM 002 When Failure Happens

RM 001 An Interview with SMT Guru Bob Willis

RM 000 Reliability Matters

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