EMS@C-LEVEL

Philip Spagnoli Stoten
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As Forbes, Entrepreneur, Fast Company and SCOOP writer, Philip Stoten, continues to talk to EMS (Electronic Manufacturing Services) executives he learns more about their individual and collective experiences and their expectations for their own businesses and for the entire electronic manufacturing industry.

  1. 1D AGO

    How Design-First Thinking Supercharges Manufacturing Performance with Clarity Design Founder Tom Lupfer

    What happens when design, software, and manufacturing live under one roof? I sat down with Clarity Design President & Founder Tom Lupfer to explore how an engineering-first culture turns a factory into a learning system—one that moves faster, reduces errors, and keeps shipping even when supply chains seize. From early PCB roots to a modern EMS shop floor, Tom lays out a playbook where DFM is embedded from day one and inspection data powers continuous improvement. We dig into the feedback loop that transforms SPI and AOI from checkpoints into engines of process intelligence. With Ko Young’s inspection systems on the line, the team closes the gap between design intent and production reality, sharpening paste control, placement accuracy, and yield. That loop gets even tighter with Python-driven automation, cutting manual entry, speeding NPI, and making the design-to-build handoff nearly automatic. It’s not just about equipment; it’s about choosing strategic partners who back tools with training, demos on real boards, and long-term support. Resilience takes center stage as Tom describes how his team redesigned most active products during the pandemic to match what was actually purchasable—without missing deliveries. That capability becomes an ongoing value-add through sustaining engineering, cost-out rework, and feature updates across a product’s life. We also unpack why medical devices became a strong niche: documentation rigor, traceability, ISO 13485 discipline, FDA registration for Class II devices, and the advantages of being U.S.-based for regulated customers. Along the way, Tom shares a hiring philosophy that puts engineers directly in front of clients, creating a fast, clear path from requirements to architecture, fixtures, and test. If you care about modern manufacturing, this conversation delivers practical insight: how to select inspection partners, why software belongs at the core of operations, and what culture it takes to align quality, speed, and cost. Subscribe, share with a colleague who lives in DFM and NPI, and leave a review telling us which idea you’ll try first. EMS@C-Level is hosted by global inspection leaders Koh Young (https://www.kohyoung.com) and Global Electronics Association (https://www.electronics.org) You can see video versions of all of the EMS@C-Level pods on our YouTube playlist.

    9 min

  2. MAR 5

    So You Think It’s “Just A Cable”? Think Again, with WERAP Group CSO Markus Hoffmann (Eric)

    The quiet parts make or break high‑reliability programs. EMSNOW's Eric Miscoll sat down on the Productronica 2025 floor with WERAP Group's Chief Sales Officer Marcus Hoffmann to unpack how our Swiss‑based EMS group is building a dedicated aerospace and defense hub by adding a Lake Constance specialist in cabling and box build—and why that matters for schedules, certifications, and mission success. From EN 9100 qualification to the realities of MIL, DIN, and NATO standards, we dig into what it takes to scale precision interconnects that most people never see but every aircraft and satellite relies on. We walk through the deal timeline, why the team kept the company as an add‑on rather than folding it in, and how a hub model concentrates know‑how without diluting rigor. Marcus explains how cabling moved from a late‑stage purchase to a design‑critical subsystem: routing, shielding, weight, and environmental factors shape avionics performance, and tiny misses in crimping or coating can stall an entire program. By uniting PCBA, inductives, certified harnesses, and box build under one accountable source, we outline a path to simpler audits, stronger documentation, and faster industrialization for complex LRUs and payload modules. You’ll also hear a candid strategy view: double down on healthcare, defense, and industrial markets, skip high‑volume automotive and consumer, and grow through targeted add‑ons that deepen capability rather than chase breadth. With a strong inherited customer base and plans to partner for R&D in Southeast Europe, we’re moving toward true turnkey while staying aligned to high‑reliability requirements. If you care about reliability, certification, and supply chain clarity in aerospace manufacturing, this conversation brings the details that actually move the needle. If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a teammate who wrangles interconnects, and leave a quick review so others building in aerospace and defense can find it. EMS@C-Level is hosted by global inspection leaders Koh Young (https://www.kohyoung.com) and Global Electronics Association (https://www.electronics.org) You can see video versions of all of the EMS@C-Level pods on our YouTube playlist.

    9 min

  3. FEB 24

    How An EMS Firm Uses Smart Acquisitions To Diversify And Thrive with C-MAC CEO Riwan Tamic

    The best technology rarely shouts; it just works. I sit down with C-MAC CEO Riwan Tamic at Productronica 2025 to unpack how an EMS leader keeps complex programs on track while much of the market wrestles with delays, margin pressure, and shifting demand. From the outside, it looks like a story about parts and lines. Inside, it’s about people, process, and the quiet decisions that keep supply chains stable and customers confident. We trace a pivotal year that began with a Poland acquisition designed for three wins at once: strategic geography within the EU, a deep bench of high-skill engineers, and new capabilities in complex electromechanical assemblies. That move isn’t just about capacity. It opens doors to high-reliability work like CERN’s radiation-resistant cabinets—systems built to run a hundred meters underground—where documentation rigor, materials science, and integration discipline decide who earns the purchase order. Along the way, we explore why mastering an SMT line means mastering the entire process, from forecasting and procurement to test coverage and change management. Automotive headwinds still shape Europe, and we address them directly. With historically high exposure to auto, CMAC has trimmed that share while holding profitability, building momentum in aerospace, defense, and medical where traceability and compliance protect value. We dig into how Chinese EV momentum and the arrival of Chinese EMS providers in Europe shift the competitive map—and why diversification beats wishful thinking about a quick rebound. Finally, we talk strategy for 2026: integrate first, align culture and quality systems, then consider more M&A with a steadier base. If you care about electronics manufacturing, supply chain resilience, and the real levers that drive sustainable growth, you’ll find practical insights and hard-won lessons here. Follow the show, share it with a colleague who lives in NPI or operations, and leave a quick review to tell us what you want explored next. EMS@C-Level is hosted by global inspection leaders Koh Young (https://www.kohyoung.com) and Global Electronics Association (https://www.electronics.org) You can see video versions of all of the EMS@C-Level pods on our YouTube playlist.

    9 min

  4. FEB 24

    How Automation And Flying Probe Are Redrawing ICT Strategy with Seica's Luca Corli

    The test floor is changing fast: components shrink, panels grow, and product lifecycles sprint. From the buzz of Productronica 2025, I sit down with Seica's Luca Corli to unpack what that means for real factories and real constraints. The conversation zeroes in on modern in-circuit testing, automation, and why secure, integrated workflows now matter as much as raw pin counts. We explore the new Valid SL, an inline ICT platform built for large, thick boards and multi-up panels that are increasingly common across semiconductors and high-reliability assemblies. With a redesigned mechanical press for stable contact, support for 4,000+ pins, and attention to cybersecurity in connected environments, Valid SL targets throughput without sacrificing trust. We also dig into Valid LR, a practical path for reusing legacy bed-of-nails fixtures from multiple vendors—key for teams that want better diagnostics and software while protecting tooling investments. The debate every engineering leader faces comes into focus: when does flying probe beat bed-of-nails, and when is it the other way around? Luca outlines where flying probe shines—rapid product changes, short runs, and tight time-to-market—and where high-pin-count, heavy, or large-format boards still make ICT the clear winner. The real gains appear when these methods are integrated with boundary scan, in-system programming, and functional testing to deliver deeper coverage and shorter cycles in one coordinated flow. We close with a candid look at market momentum. Automotive softness in parts of Europe contrasts with strong growth in India, where the shift from two and three wheels to cars drives electronics demand, and Southeast Asia continues to accelerate as manufacturing relocates. Through all of it, Seika’s customer-led approach anchors the roadmap: more flexibility where change is constant, more capacity where scale dominates, and more security wherever data and firmware touch the line. Enjoy the conversation, then tell us how your team balances flexibility and throughput. If this helped you think differently about test strategy, follow, share with a colleague, and leave a quick review—your feedback helps others discover the show. EMS@C-Level is hosted by global inspection leaders Koh Young (https://www.kohyoung.com) and Global Electronics Association (https://www.electronics.org) You can see video versions of all of the EMS@C-Level pods on our YouTube playlist.

    6 min

  5. FEB 24

    How Defense Demand And HDI Capacity Are Reshaping Europe’s PCB Industry with Polytron-Print's Michael Müller

    Live from Productronica 2025, I sit down with Polytron-Print's Michael Müller to map the real forces reshaping Europe’s PCB landscape. After a year that felt flat across Germany, order flow has finally stabilized since midyear, turning survival mode into measured planning. Michael opens the shop door on what customers are actually asking for: complex HDI builds with blind and buried vias, tighter tolerances, and faster feedback loops. That demand has prompted a concrete move—doubling blind via filling capacity—to meet programs that prize reliability and local collaboration over sheer volume. We also unpack the defense effect rippling through the supply base. Even without actively serving defense, Polytron Print is seeing oversized RFQs that reveal how hard it is to find vetted European capacity. When a single quote equals a quarter of a factory’s annual load, you know the market is stretched. The downstream impact is powerful: defense-heavy shops get saturated, and industrial and sensor customers look for reliable alternatives nearby. That’s where HDI credibility matters. Years of proving capability are translating into production orders, not just prototypes, as teams choose local partners for sensitive, low-volume, high-complexity boards. Across the conversation, we get practical about why HDI work stays in Europe: quality oversight, IP stewardship, responsive engineering, and shorter loops during bring-up. We touch on the cloudy automotive picture, the uptick in quotes as some competitors struggle, and how targeted automation supports consistency without sacrificing the flexibility high-mix builds require. If you’re navigating PCB sourcing, evaluating HDI partners, or tracking how defense budgets are rebalancing capacity, this candid update offers a clear, ground-level signal amid the noise. Enjoyed the conversation? Follow the show, share this episode with a colleague in hardware, and leave a quick review to help more builders find us. EMS@C-Level is hosted by global inspection leaders Koh Young (https://www.kohyoung.com) and Global Electronics Association (https://www.electronics.org) You can see video versions of all of the EMS@C-Level pods on our YouTube playlist.

    5 min

  6. FEB 24

    Inside The Push For Smarter, Faster PCB Manufacturing In Europe with Adeon Technologies' André Bodegom

    Europe’s PCB story is changing from survival mode to smart growth, and the signs are finally visible on the factory floor. I sit down with Adeon Technologies' André Bodegom, the leading PCB technology supplier in Europe, to unpack a rare mix of optimism and pragmatism: a spotless new plant opening in Lithuania, major players eyeing expansions up to 50 percent, and defense programs quietly balancing a sluggish automotive sector. The throughline is technology with purpose—intelligent automation, MES-driven control, and AI that turns AOI data into tangible improvements in yield, speed, and consistency. We pull back the curtain on what “smart factory” really means for high‑mix, low‑volume producers. Instead of one-size-fits-all automation, we’re talking adaptive workflows, software-defined changeovers, and MES as the command center that aligns jobs, machines, and quality gates. Machine data, once ignored, becomes the decisive asset: collected at the edge, normalized, and fed upstream to scheduling and process engineering. The result is a tighter loop where the plant doesn’t just measure defects—it prevents them in real time. AI plays a breakout role, especially in inspection. You’ll hear how multi-level AI approaches reduce false calls, spotlight recurring defects, and progress from human-in-the-loop suggestions to safe, closed-loop parameter tweaks. We also explore the human side: an older workforce bolstered by a wave of digital-native engineers who expect clean data, clear interfaces, and fast iteration. Pair that talent shift with modern MES and connected equipment, and you get a credible path to European resilience without chasing commodity scale. If you’re weighing investments in MES, AOI analytics, or data infrastructure—or you’re simply trying to future-proof high‑mix operations—this conversation offers practical steps to climb the trust curve with AI and automation. Subscribe, share with a colleague who cares about yield and cycle time, and leave a review with your biggest challenge on the road to closed-loop control. EMS@C-Level is hosted by global inspection leaders Koh Young (https://www.kohyoung.com) and Global Electronics Association (https://www.electronics.org) You can see video versions of all of the EMS@C-Level pods on our YouTube playlist.

    9 min

  7. FEB 24

    Why A Healthy Prototype Pipeline Signals A Strong Future For Manufacturing with Eurociruits' Dirk Stans

    From the bustle of Productronica 2025, I sit down with Eurocircuits’ Managing Partner Dirk Stans to decode what a strong prototype pipeline really means for Europe’s electronics industry and why it’s one of the clearest signals that production will follow. Instead of chasing hype, we dig into the decisions that move the needle: smart digitization, tight production engineering, and using AI where it actually improves outcomes. We walk through the regional waves that shape demand across Europe—why the north can surge while the south softens, and how a pan‑European footprint cushions those swings. The conversation gets specific about capacity strategy too: staying ready for organic growth without overextending, adding equipment where it unlocks throughput, and focusing investment on the translation layer from design data to machine instructions. That’s the difference between a fragile process and a resilient, repeatable one in high‑mix manufacturing. AI shows up as a practical tool, not a miracle. Dirk explains how their custom optical inspection system handles thousands of unfamiliar components, why classic AOI falls short for prototypes, and how learning systems reduce false calls while catching real defects. With roughly 51,000 new parts added to their library each year—about a thousand a week—the data advantage compounds, informing smarter rules, faster setups, and better first‑pass yields. The takeaway is clear: when variety is the norm, the winners are the teams who turn messy inputs into reliable builds at speed. If you care about innovation cycles, European electronics, and what it really takes to turn new designs into stable production, you’ll find plenty to apply in your own workflow. Follow the show, share this with a colleague who loves building things, and leave a review to tell us where you see the next wave forming. EMS@C-Level is hosted by global inspection leaders Koh Young (https://www.kohyoung.com) and Global Electronics Association (https://www.electronics.org) You can see video versions of all of the EMS@C-Level pods on our YouTube playlist.

    7 min

  8. FEB 7

    A Merger That Turns Tariffs Into Opportunity And Scale Into Customer Advantage, with ALL Circuits' Stephane Klajzyngier

    Tariffs changed the rules, but they also opened a door. I sit down with Stephane Klajzyngier, ALL Circuits' Deputy CEO, to unpack how merging with DBG transformed a strong European EMS into a truly global partner with the footprint, capital strength, and operational discipline to win in a volatile market. From Mexico and Tunisia to China, Vietnam, India, and Bangladesh, we break down why diversified manufacturing options beat single-country bets and how customers are now optimizing for total landed cost, duty exposure, and ramp speed. We get candid about integration: what it takes to align cultures and processes, how much “common DNA” you really need, and why being similar but not identical accelerates learning. The conversation drills into the realities of EMS scale—purchasing power for cutting-edge equipment, the cost of every new line, and why financial depth matters to OEMs who fear supplier failure more than unit price. Talent becomes a headline theme: attracting engineers, technicians, program managers, and quality leaders who can connect DFM, test, and compliance, while three design centers in France, Shenzhen, and Shanghai shape BOM strategy and component leverage long before production starts. RFQs are flooding in for two clear reasons: mid-sized international OEMs want a partner big enough to move programs across continents but attentive enough to prioritize them, and Asia-based companies entering western markets need guidance on compliance, nearshoring trade-offs, and duty-optimized routing. We also dig into automation lessons from China, where robotics must outperform extremely low labor costs, pushing smarter ROI thresholds, standardized work, and relentless continuous improvement. Looking ahead, the plan is focused and pragmatic: modernize EMEA for lower cost per placement, expand in North America as awards land, and explore an additional Asian site to deepen resilience. If you care about where to build, how to hedge tariff risk, and which levers truly move EMS cost and speed, this conversation delivers practical insight you can use. Subscribe, share with a colleague weighing footprint decisions, and leave a review to tell us what you want us to unpack next. EMS@C-Level is hosted by global inspection leaders Koh Young (https://www.kohyoung.com) and Global Electronics Association (https://www.electronics.org) You can see video versions of all of the EMS@C-Level pods on our YouTube playlist.

    18 min
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About

As Forbes, Entrepreneur, Fast Company and SCOOP writer, Philip Stoten, continues to talk to EMS (Electronic Manufacturing Services) executives he learns more about their individual and collective experiences and their expectations for their own businesses and for the entire electronic manufacturing industry.

Information

  • Creator
    Philip Spagnoli Stoten
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    303
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 EMS@C-LEVEL
  • Show Website
    EMS@C-LEVEL

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