IPC announces agendas for Fall Management Council Meetings

Company leaders given opportunity to network, address critical industry issues

Opportunities for peer networking, a primary benefit of IPC membership, will abound at the upcoming IPC Management Council Meetings, October 18, 2005, in St. Petersburg, Fla. The IPC Management Council Meetings are exclusive forums where industry leaders can meet with peers, customers and suppliers to solve common challenges and hear the latest industry information.

Grant Aldonas, former Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade, and a key player in U.S./China policy decisions, will kick off the meeting with "The Dynamics of U.S. and China Trade Relations: A View from the Front Lines," his keynote address to attendees.

After the keynote session, attendees will break into the council meeting dedicated to their industry segments. Following are the major highlights of each of the four industry segment meetings.

IPC IMS/PCB Management Council Meeting
How can leaders of North American printed circuit board (PCB) companies revitalize the industry? Discovering the answer to this question will be the primary focus of this meeting. Representatives of the original equipment manufacturer (OEM), electronics manufacturing services (EMS), PCB and PCB supplier industries will lead a candid discussion on what their companies are doing to ensure the strength of the North American market, including how they view supply chain relationships.

IPC EMS Management Council Meeting
Lead free is perhaps the biggest challenge facing EMS executives today.  Is the industry ready? Presenters will give an update on OEM needs as well as provide an overview of the business and technology challenges of RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) compliance including reliability challenges, supplier readiness and the risk of relying on product exemptions.

IPC PCB Suppliers Leadership Meeting
Everyone knows it's important to do business with China, but what are the pitfalls? PCB suppliers will engage in a discussion of the factors they need to consider before making the move to China, including the hidden costs that companies seldom consider. Balancing customer demands and still remaining profitable will also be covered.

SMEMA Management Council Meeting
How will the global assembly equipment market be impacted when companies in China sell their used equipment? What "technology shocks" will face the assembly equipment industry? These are just some of the issues that will be addressed at the IPC SMEMA Management Council meeting. RoHS regulations, emerging technologies and radio frequency identification (RFID) will also be covered.

For additional information on the Management Council Meetings, contact Susan Filz, IPC industry programs project manager at 847-597-2884 or SusanFilz@ipc.org. You can also visit www.ipc.org/calendar to access the full program agenda and registration form.

Immediately following the management council meetings, IPC's Technology Market Research Council (TMRC) will hold its fall conference on October 19-20 in St. Petersburg, Fla. The theme will be: "Industry in Transition: Successful Electronic Interconnection Companies in North America are Adapting for Survival." For additional information on the fall TMRC, visit www.ipc.org/calendar.