CircuiTree - February 2009 - (Page 2)

February 2009 • Vol. 22, No. 2 • www.circuitree.com features 20 Are Better PCB Design Tools and Manufacturing Enough to Stay Competitive? John Isaac We need to improve the efficiency of the entire product development process by providing multidiscipline collaboration capabilities. 26 The Big Deal Over Fine Pitch Assembly Zulki Khan To maintain the highest caliber of accuracy for fine pitch assembly, EMS providers must continue to be ahead of the technology curve. 20 columns 14 Tech Talk Karl Dietz Addressing workers’ health and effluent disposal issues. 26 special section 30 Asian Section Using Statistical Tools in Electronics Manufacturing, Part 1 Rob Emery and Craig Hamilton 25 Fein-Lines Dan Feinberg Assessing your strategic planning and short-term tactics in an uncertain new year. departments 36 View From the Middle Steve Williams The first in a series on the lean toolkit. 19 Flexible Thinking Joe Fjelstad What does the future hold for flex circuits? 6 8 42 45 48 48 Lead Wire The Wire Technical Product Spotlights Classified Ads Upcoming Events Ad Index 24 The Strategist Dan Beaulieu A strategy for hard times. 38 Market Outlook Walt Custer and Jonathan Custer-Topai The global electronics food chain is in sync. www.circuitree.com • Circuitree February Issue, 2009, Volume 22, Number 2 CIRCUITREE (ISSN 1059-843X) is published 12 times annually, monthly, by BNP Media II, L.L.C., 2401 W. Big Beaver Rd., Suite 700, Troy, MI 48084-3333. Telephone: (248) 362-3700, Fax: (248) 362-0317. No charge for subscriptions to qualiﬁed individuals. Annual rate for subscriptions to nonqualiﬁed individuals in the U.S.A.: $104.00 USD. Annual rate for subscriptions to nonqualiﬁed individuals in Canada: $137.00.00 USD (includes GST & postage); all other countries: $154.00 (int’l mail) payable in U.S. funds. Printed in the U.S.A. Copyright 2009, by BNP Media II, L.L.C. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the consent of the publisher. The publisher is not responsible for product claims and representations. Periodicals Postage Paid at Troy, MI and at additional mailing ofﬁces. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: CIRCUITREE, P.O. Box 2147, Skokie, IL 60076. Change of address: Send old address label along with new address to CIRCUITREE, P.O. Box 2147, Skokie, IL 60076. Canada Post: Publications Mail Agreement #40612608. GST account: 131263923. Send returns (Canada) to Bleuchip International, P.O. Box 25542, London, ON, N6C 6B2. For single copies or back issues: contact Ann Kalb at (248) 244-6499 or KalbA@bnpmedia.com. 2 February 2009 • circuitree.com http://www.circuitree.com http://www.circuitree.com http://www.circuitree.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of CircuiTree - February 2009

CircuiTree - February 2009 Contents Lead Wire The Wire Tech Talk Flexible Thinking Are Better PCB Design Tools and Manufacturing Enough to Stay Competitive? The Strategist Fein-Lines The Big Deal Over Fine Pitch Assembly Asian Section View From the Middle Market Outlook Technical Product Spotlights Classified Ads Upcoming Events Ad Index

CircuiTree - February 2009

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