iNEMI Publishes Four Roadmap Topics
April 4, 2024 | iNEMIEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
The International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative (iNEMI) announces the availability of the first roadmap topics in the new iNEMI Roadmap format. Printed circuit boards, sustainable electronics, smart manufacturing, and mmWave materials and test are now available online.
“The in-depth content on these topics is intended to help companies align technology progress with their respective commercial interests and to support high-volume manufacturing,” says Francis Mullany, iNEMI Director of Roadmapping. “The new format provides a more structured, accessible view of the roadmap that is easily updated based on market movements and technology innovations. And, of course, the roadmap continues to chart the future evolution of electronics manufacturing in terms of application drivers, technical needs, gaps, and technical solutions over a 10-year horizon to help guide R&D investment decisions by industry as well as public research programs and government agencies.”
Initial Topics Include Technologies Critical to Complex Integrated Systems
This initial wave of roadmap topics focuses on key technologies and cross-cutting topics critical to complex integrated systems (CIS), as discussed in a recent iNEMI/IPC whitepaper “Complex Integrated Systems: The Future of Electronics Manufacturing." The scope of each topic area now available is described below.
Printed Circuit Boards — Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are a fundamental element of a vast range of electronic products. The PCB manufacturing ecosystem must continuously evolve and react to “technology blurring” with respect to substrates. The initial iNEMI Roadmap discussion of this topic covers a broad spectrum: high-speed PCBs and substrates; test, inspection and measurement; and environmental issues. Other topics currently under preparation include microwave and mmWave PCBs, laminate-based semiconductor packaging and PCB design.
Sustainable Electronics — Sustainability in the design, manufacture, use and end-of-life handling of electronics systems is an increasingly important consideration across the entire electronics manufacturing ecosystem. The iNEMI Roadmap currently focuses on the full scope of circularity and on key materials used. A new reporting format gathers information on sustainability hot-spot issues and roadmaps mitigating technologies on a per-substance basis.
Smart Manufacturing — The term “smart manufacturing” encompasses the adoption of informed, intelligent, automated manufacturing processes at factory, enterprise, and ecosystem levels for increased flexibility, resiliency and efficiency. The initial release of roadmap content looks at the central topic of data flow architecture and at the increasingly important issue of security of smart manufacturing systems and data.
mmWave Materials and Test — As part of the 5G/6G MAESTRO project, work on this topic was supported by the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST’s) Office of Advanced Manufacturing. It considers the challenges posed by the operation of electronics at mmWave frequencies and higher. The focus is on the materials and their characterization and electrical test, primarily for PCBs and packaging substrates.
Publication Schedule
In the coming months, the iNEMI Roadmap will:
Provide qualitative market driver assessments and quantitative requirements for multiple application areas
Map technology gaps and potential solution approaches for other critical technology topics such as board assembly, complex integrated systems, modelling and design
Build a dynamic online presence for the iNEMI Roadmap, collaborating closely with other industry roadmaps
Suggested Items
All-Inclusive: PRIDE Industries Helps Employees With Disabilities to Succeed
05/01/2024 | Sandy Gentry, IPCPRIDE Industries is the leading employer of people with disabilities and those with other barriers to employment in the United States, including veterans and former foster youth. The company offers job training, placement, on-the-job coaching, and skills development for independent living. It has held IPC membership since 2000. Read more about this unique business and its connection to the electronics manufacturing industry.
U.S. Companies Invest Heavily in Robots
04/30/2024 | IFRManufacturing companies in the United States have invested heavily in more automation: total installations of industrial robots rose by 12% and reached 44,303 units in 2023. Number one adopter is the car industry followed by the electrical and electronics sector.
Flex Receives Ericsson 2023 Supplier Sustainability Award
04/30/2024 | FlexEricsson recently awarded Flex with its 2023 Supplier Sustainability Award — the second time since 2021. The award recognizes the extended supply chain benefits from sustainable manufacturing operations in the Flex facility in Tczew, Poland, that runs on 100 percent renewable energy.
USPAE to Springboard U.S. Technology Forward
04/30/2024 | Marcy LaRont, PCB007 MagazineThe U.S. Partnership for Assured Electronics (USPAE) was launched as a nonprofit subsidiary of IPC in 2020, specifically to manage the DoD relationship and access to funding, and to develop a cooperative facility to develop UHDI capabilities in the U.S., not only for the defense sector, but for the whole of the U.S. electronics industry. It is a tall order, but industry veteran Joe O'Neil believes it will happen. Having been tasked with making the UHDI Capable Cooperative Production Facility (UCCPF) a reality, he provides an update on this important project for U.S. electronics manufacturing.
Real Time with… IPC APEX EXPO 2024: Insight into Summit Interconnect's Success
04/30/2024 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPOShane Whiteside, CEO of Summit Interconnect, discusses the company's recent recognition as one of the best PCB fabricators in the industry by receiving IPC's Peter Sarmanian award. Whiteside touches on the impact of changes in the marketplace, such as the Defense Production Act and presidential determination, on their growth. Whiteside also shares the company's focus on mechanical and data automation to enhance manufacturing processes and anticipates more automation and evolution in the industry.