Michelle: And I'm Michelle Bangert, managing editor of Quality and the host of Quality’s “QCAST.”

Jennifer: On “Assembly Audible,” we focus on the latest processes, technologies and trends for assembling parts into finished products.

Michelle: And on “QCAST,” we interview subject matter experts on a range of quality topics from the skilled workforce to stress.

Jennifer: We're counting down to the Assembly Show 2025, where you can see the latest assembly technology, learn cutting edge manufacturing strategies and network with top industry professionals. The show will take place in Rosemont, Illinois, on October 21st through the 23rd. We're proud to once again partner and co-locate with SMTA to bring engineering and manufacturing professionals together in one location. Your assembly badge grants access to the SMTA exhibit hall.

Michelle: And we're here today with Greg Vance, who's the president of the board of directors of SMTA. He's also a principal engineer in the Printed Circuit Board Assembly Advanced Manufacturing Engineering team at Rockwell Automation. He has over 32 years of experience at Rockwell Automation and has supported global electronic assembly operations in various roles.

To start off, can you tell our listeners a little bit about your background?

Greg: I've been with Rockwell Automation for 32 years. The majority of that has been in electronic assembly. And the team that I'm a part of is responsible for electronic assembly, from design all the way through the manufacturing process.

When we're done, we ship our products for final assembly or box build. We are driving standardization and continuous improvement across all of Rockwell Automation’s electronics assembly plants.

Jennifer: What obstacles or challenges are your members facing right now?

Greg: Electronics manufacturing is an ever-evolving industry. Packages continue to get smaller and smaller, requiring quality improvements in our printing placement, in soldering processes.

Besides package miniaturization, I'll say there are several other challenges. One is harsh environments. We have a track at SMTA conference program that teaches about how to deal with harsh environments. Our products are exposed to all the contaminants in the air in the environments where they reside, whether that be on your body or something in an industrial plant. And with miniaturization, that has created some significant challenges for the life cycle of a project. So that's another area that we'll be delving into at the SMTA International conference track.

In addition, a number of exhibitors will be there that can talk to attendees about conformal coatings and even special solders that help to protect a product while it's out in the environment to ensure a long, long and healthy life.