PCB Chat

On this episode of PCB Chat, David Schild of the Printed Circuit Board Association of America [https://www.pcbaa.org] and Mike Buetow discuss the current legislative environment for supporting the PCB industry. We discuss the organization's latest annual meeting, the changing political environment, competition with China, and potential incentives. Also covered: * The expanding ecosystem supporting a federal industry policy * Potential tax credits for manufacturing boards onshore * Avoiding single points of failure in the supply chain * A change in tactics but not goals for garnering federal support for the electronics industry * Congressional visits to domestic manufacturers * The pursuit of skilled labor

Wally Rhines, spokesperson for the ESD Alliance [https://www.semi.org/en/communities/esda], joins Mike Buetow to discuss the first quarter electronic design automation market results [https://www.semi.org/en/semi-press-release/esd-alliance-reports-electronic-system-design-industry-posts-5.1-billion-dollars-in-revenue-in-q1-2025]. The good news: sales of PCB/MCM design software were up 5.5% to $399.8 million for the quarter, the 17th straight period of growth. Strength in Asia-Pacific offset slower results in some other regions.  The four-quarter moving average for PCB and MCM rose 8.9%. The Americas, the largest reporting region by revenue, procured almost $2.21 billion of electronic system design products and services in Q1 2025, a 14% increase.  Listen to the podcast for more data and analysis, including thoughts on tariffs.

Today we're diving into a topic that keeps many executives awake at night—ERP implementations. More specifically, why so many of them fail and, perhaps more importantly, how to fix them midstream before they derail your operations. Joining Mike Konrad is someone who knows this space inside and out—Chintan Sutaria. Sutaria grew up working in an EMS business from a young age, gaining firsthand experience in the unique challenges of our industry. His career path took him into the world of business process consulting at some of the largest Big 5 firms, and he has since worked with numerous EMS companies on a wide range of projects. Many may recognize Sutaria as the founder and former CEO of CalcuQuote, a well-known supply chain management software company for the EMS industry. Recently, he founded, OpenJar, a consultancy dedicated to helping electronics manufacturers navigate complex business challenges—including ERP implementations. We’ll discuss his new company as well as his recent blog post, "Why Your ERP Implementation Failed (and How to Fix It Midstream)", explore common pitfalls, and uncover strategies to steer your ERP project back on course. Chapters: 00:00:00 Common Failures in ERP Implementations and How to Fix Them 00:02:20 Transitioning from Calcot to Open Jar  00:04:07 Embracing Innovative Ideas with Open Jar Philosophy 00:07:47 Why Your ERP Implementation Failed and How to Fix It 00:08:06 The Challenges of SAP and ERP Implementations 00:10:00 The Importance of Second Opinions in ERP Implementations 00:12:05 Common Misconceptions in ERP Implementation  00:13:57 Navigating the Learning Curve in New Systems 00:15:53 Key Criteria for Successful Project Implementation 00:17:42 Identifying Unique Strengths in EMS Companies  00:19:39 Challenges in Change Management for EMS Software 00:21:47 Early Warning Signs of a Failing ERP System 00:23:34 Navigating ERP Implementation Challenges 00:25:40 Keeping Cool Under Pressure: A Guide to Effective Problem Solving 00:27:32 Importance of ERP Functionality Prioritization  00:29:33 Navigating ERP Implementation Changes  00:31:56 Balancing Efficiency with Employee Discomfort in ERP Systems 00:33:22 Importance of Structured Approach in Consulting  00:35:29 Challenges in Software Implementation  00:37:40 The Challenges of Implementing Systems in Small Businesses 00:39:47 Challenges of Scaling a Business with Automation 00:41:55 Essential Strategies for Successful ERP Implementation  00:43:55 Insights with Serial Entrepreneur Chintan Sataria 00:45:56 Podcast Updates and Listener Engagement

Cofactr [https://www.cofactr.com/] is a supply chain execution platform that includes source-to-pay and 3PL solutions for electronics hardware developers. Live from the show floor at PCB East [https://pcbeast.com]in May, cofounder Phil Gulley and VP of marketing Libby Melton join Matt Leary, Geoffrey Hazelett and Mike Buetow to discuss the company's procurement process tools and software integrations.

Today we're turning our attention to a cornerstone of modern electronics manufacturing: pick-and-place technology. Joining Mike Konrad is Tim Kang, CEO of Hanwha Semitech Americas. With nearly two decades of experience in the electronics manufacturing space — starting as a mechanical engineer and now leading one of the top pick and place equipment providers — Kang brings a wealth of insight into what it takes to build reliable assemblies. In this episode, we’re covering best practices for selecting the most appropriate pick and place machine, how to get the most out of your equipment, and the common mistakes that can compromise productivity and long-term reliability.