PCB Chat

PCEA

Recorded conversations and interviews on electronics design and manufacturing with the editors of PCD&F/Circuits Assembly, brought to you by the Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA)

  1. 2d ago

    RM 194: Why Post-Reflow Cleaning Is Becoming Mainstream Again, Part 2

    This is part two of a two-part series. In Part One, we explored how the electronics industry transitioned from a clean-everything approach to one where cleaning became optional. But what happens when the assumptions behind “no-clean” collide with modern electronics design? In this episode of Reliability Matters, Mike Konrad examines how the definition of cleanliness has fundamentally changed. As assemblies became smaller, denser, and increasingly deployed into harsh environments, the industry discovered that historical cleanliness standards were no longer sufficient to predict real-world reliability. Modern low stand-off components like QFNs, BGAs, and CSPs create tight geometries where residues can become trapped and difficult to remove, while thermal cycling and internal condensation can create localized harsh environments inside the product itself. This episode explores: • Why IPC moved away from fixed cleanliness limits • The growing importance of SIR and ROSE testing • Why “cleanliness” is now tied to risk, not a number • How internal condensation can trigger electrochemical migration • Why no-clean flux has become the most commonly cleaned flux type in the industry • The return of cleaning as a mainstream reliability process • Why modern assemblies require aggressive spray-in-air cleaning technologies instead of historical immersion-based vapor degreasing methods • How diffused spray patterns improve cleaning beneath low stand-off components Konrad also explains how modern cleaning challenges are no longer just about chemistry. They are about physics, fluid delivery, and whether the cleaning process can physically reach contamination hidden beneath today’s densely packed components. As electronics continue to shrink and reliability expectations continue to rise, one question becomes increasingly important: Clean enough for what? If you work in electronics manufacturing, reliability engineering, process engineering, or quality assurance, this episode provides a detailed look at why post-reflow cleaning has once again become a critical part of modern electronics manufacturing.

    11 min

  2. Jun 1

    PCB Chat 157: Tomachie's CJ Clark Discusses AI-driven Schematic and Test Analysis

    Tomachie has quite a few tricks up its sleeve. Its eponymous platform provides AI-assisted analysis of PCB schematic data. It optimizes DfT and identifies the ideal locations for physical test point insertion. And it generates a 0-100 layout-readiness score, providing design teams with an objective, data-driven metric. Tomachie is the brainchild of CJ Clark, a veteran test engineer with a background in JTAG and boundary scan technology, not to mention five patents under his belt. He is also CEO of Intellitech, Tomachie's sibling company. CJ spoke with Andy Shaughnessy about Tomachie, what AI can and can't do, and why he wishes his team had access to a tool like this 25 years ago.

    26 min

  3. May 29

    RM 193: Why Post-Reflow Cleaning Is Becoming Mainstream Again

    For decades, cleaning circuit assemblies after soldering was not optional. It was standard practice across the electronics manufacturing industry. Then, almost overnight, that changed. In this episode of Reliability Matters, Mike Konrad takes you back to the origins of that shift. From the widespread use of CFC-based cleaning solvents to the global impact of the Montreal Protocol, this episode explains how environmental regulation led to the rapid adoption of no-clean flux and the removal of cleaning as a standard process step. But that decision came with assumptions. Assumptions based on larger components, wider spacing, and assemblies that were far more tolerant of residues than what we see today. As electronics evolved, so did the risk. Miniaturization, increased component density, and the expansion of electronics into harsh environments have dramatically reduced the tolerance for contamination. And when cleaning was removed, it wasn’t just flux that remained. It was the totality of residues introduced throughout the manufacturing process. This episode walks through how those residues, combined with moisture and electrical bias, can lead to electrochemical migration, including parasitic leakage and dendritic growth, often resulting in delayed or intermittent failures. This is the story of how we got here. In Part 2, we bring this discussion into the present. What does “clean” actually mean today? Why did the industry move away from fixed cleanliness limits? And why is cleaning once again becoming a critical part of modern electronics manufacturing? If you’ve ever asked the question, “Do I really need to clean?” Part 2 will challenge how you think about the answer.

    13 min

  4. May 29

    RM 192: Why PCB Revision Errors Are a Hidden Reliability Risk

    Today, we’re going to explore a topic that doesn’t always get the attention it deserves but has a direct impact on product quality and long-term reliability. Mike Konrad is joined by Mehdi Nahali, founder of PCB Revision Control PRO. His platform is designed to replace spreadsheets, emails, and disconnected systems with a centralized approach to PCB revision lifecycle management and factory intelligence.  They going to talk about how revision control, data integrity, and process discipline impact reliability, and where manufacturers are still getting it wrong.

    39 min

  5. May 28

    RM 191: Why Maintenance Is Finally Getting a Seat at the Table

    Today’s episode is going to resonate with anyone responsible for uptime, efficiency, and ultimately, product reliability.  Because whether we’re talking about circuit assemblies, manufacturing lines, or entire facilities, reliability doesn’t start at inspection. It starts with maintenance. Mike Konradf's guest is Paul Ross, chief marketing officer at Limble, a company providing modern maintenance and asset management solutions to thousands of organizations worldwide. With more than 25 years of experience in enterprise and high-growth software companies, Ross has spent his career helping organizations leverage data, systems, and strategy to improve performance. Today, we’re going to explore how maintenance has evolved from a reactive necessity to a strategic driver of reliability, what companies are still getting wrong, and how modern tools are changing the game.

    1 hr

  6. May 27

    PCB Chat 156: Lauren Waslick and Kristen Aguiar of Newgrange Design

    Printed circuit designers Lauren Waslick and Kristen Aguiar of Newgrange Design have become mainstays as presenters at industry conferences such as PCB East and PCB West. Neither, however, anticipated a career in PCBs coming out of college. They discuss their career paths, finding mentors, and adjusting to a male-heavy industry with PCEA managing editor Ryann Howard.

    15 min

  7. Apr 24

    RM 189: Predict, Prevent, Produce: RoviSys' Bryan DeBois on Manufacturing's Al Future

    What if your factory could predict failures before they happen, capture decades of human expertise, and make better decisions than ever before—without replacing the people who run it? Today’s guest sits right at the intersection of innovation and industry.  Bryan DeBois, director of industrial AI at RoviSys, is helping reshape what manufacturing looks like in the age of intelligent machines. From predictive analytics that catch problems before they happen, to data-driven systems that optimize production in real time, DeBois's work is transforming how factories think, learn, and produce. But this isn’t about replacing people, it’s about amplifying human expertise and capturing decades of industrial knowledge before it disappears. In this episode, we’ll explore how smart factories are changing the game, what it really takes to begin a digital transformation, and why trust and transparency are just as critical as algorithms and code. What stands out most is DeBois’s ability to make advanced technology practical. He’s not talking about theory, he’s helping real manufacturers integrate AI in ways that improve safety, efficiency, and sustainability. Mike Konrad speaks with DeBois about how artificial intelligence is redefining manufacturing, the challenges of digital transformation, and the future of smart factories.

    59 min

  8. Apr 20

    PCB Chat 155: Breadboard's Nemanja Jokanovic on Automating BOM Management

    Nemanja Jokanovic is the executive leader of Breadboard, an AI-powered platform that he believes will revolutionize BOM management. In this interview with Andy Shaughnessy, Jokanovic, an Octopart alum, discusses the many sourcing challenges facing EMS companies today, and he explains how Breadboard optimizes BOM analysis and supply chain management.  Stop by and chat with Jokanovic in person at PCB East 2026. Breadboard will be exhibiting on April 29 at the DCU Center in Worcester, MA.

    20 min
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About

Recorded conversations and interviews on electronics design and manufacturing with the editors of PCD&F/Circuits Assembly, brought to you by the Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA)

Information

  • Creator
    PCEA
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    250
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 Printed Circuit Engineering Association Inc. All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    PCB Chat