The ICT and ADE - representing the UK's interconnection industry's individual engineers

Citation

Coultard, F. (2000), "The ICT and ADE - representing the UK's interconnection industry's individual engineers", Circuit World, Vol. 26 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/cw.2000.21726caf.001

The ICT and ADE - representing the UK's interconnection industry's individual engineers

Keywords: PCIF, ICT, ADE, Interconnection

"The wealth of any organisation is in the summation of its individuals". Some arrange the structures of their companies to encourage individual initiative and innovative, even radical thinking. Sadly the reverse is true also. It is not in dispute that the harnessing of the brain-power of employees is imperative to the development of the optimum thrust of any group.

The PCIF, whilst representing the corporate members in the UK's Interconnection industry, also makes provision for individual engineers through two channels, The Institute of Circuit Technology (ICT) and the Association of Printed Circuit Board Design Engineers (ADE). The creation of these groups was a deliberate tactic to reach out to the grass-roots of the industry, to improve the status and training of our engineers and operators and to provide forums for their networking and interchange of ideas.

Both the ICT and the ADE have seen some changes recently, reflecting the dynamic situation in our industry. The ICT has a new Chairman in Steve Payne of Cirflex Technology Ltd and the ADE likewise has a new Chairman in Martin Cotton of Viasystems Inc. Both are well known in the industry, worldwide, with solid backgrounds of great competence and practicality. Both will be hugely welcome and will bring new ideas and spark to their respective new positions. Grateful thanks should be expressed to the outgoing Chairmen of these positions who gave considerable, unselfish and effective contributions to their posts.

The ICT has been operating now for many years having established a secure position to focus engineers particularly in the PCB fabrication part of the industry; now it needs to find a fresh approach and a stronger reason for its existence. The status of its grading scheme is important, as is the wealth of its regular technical seminars, but the training emphasis of the past has lapsed. An industry that soundly embraces so many technical disciplines benefits from an institute, which brings people together. However a learned institute should normally contribute to the learning process and should be seen to do so. The enthusiastic support seen at the 25th anniversary celebrations in April 1999 indicated a groundswell of commitment to bolster the ICT. This should be harnessed and steered to good advantage.

The ADE is a new association, started in January 1999. It began with a burst of enthusiasm and the willing expertise and energy of many experts in the industry. Over the year there were many Chapter meetings, all well attended. The idea of the ADE seemed to touch a nerve, largely encouraged by the previous isolation of engineers in this field. However in the latter part of 1999 the Chapters seemed to wane, with the notable exception of the Scottish Chapter. For a variety of reasons, new energy and commitment was needed. With a new Chairman and a meaningful increase in the number of Chapters, the future looks bright for the year 2000. One other really strong benefit for ADE members has been the vigorous start of the IPC PWB Design Certification Courses. These are centred now at SAMC in Livingston and INPAQ in Newbury, with the expectation of further centres being established as demand dictates. The implementation of these has been largely at the behest of William Campbell of SAMC and the enthusiastic support of both Gary Ferrari (IPC) and Brian Haken (PCIF) and fulfils one of the chief aims of the ADE, namely the introduction of a respected and effective Training and Accreditation scheme for Design Engineers.

Frank Coultard