IPC'S PWB President's Management Meeting To Address Outlook of Industry

IPC-Association Connecting Electronics Industries will discuss the future of the industry at its PWB Presidents' Management Meeting, March 25-26, at the Hyatt Regency Long Beach, Long Beach, Calif. The meeting, entitled "Explore the Future of the PWB Industry," takes place in conjunction with IPC Printed Circuits Expo 2002, being held March 24-28 at the Long Beach Convention Center.

A panel discussion of suppliers will open the meeting with their viewpoints on available materials, future advancements in technology and specific concerns of PWB manufacturers. Representatives from OEM and Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS) companies will then present, "The OEM and EMS of Tomorrow: What Can You Expect?", a discussion on what these groups will require from PWB manufacturers in the next three to five years.

Three industry consultants will offer their own expert analyses. Bob Shrouds, corporate economist at E.I. DuPont de Nemours, will share his views on the global economic outlook.

Next, J. Keith Dunne, Robertson Stephens managing director, will present, "What is Wall Street Saying about the PWB Industry?" Dunne will address investors' current level of interest in the PWB industry and what it means for the industry's future.

N. T. Balakrishnan, California Polytechnic University, will round out the trio of lectures. His presentation, "What You Need to Know About Mergers and Acquisitions," will cover strategic planning and analyze case studies of mergers and acquisitions.

A "How's Business?" roundtable will also be included in the two-day meeting. This small group discussion will provide attendees with an opportunity to examine industry issues and potential solutions with other PWB executives.

"Our goal with this meeting is to provide attendees information necessary to succeed in the PWB industry," said Susan Eurich, IPC manager of Industry Programs. "We have developed a very practical, hands-on meeting that covers vital PWB aspects, such as customers, suppliers and analysts."

For more information about the IPC PWB Presidents' Management Meeting, contact Eurich at SusanEurich@ipc.org or 847-790-5384. For IPC Printed Circuits Expo 2002 information, visit http://www.ipcprintedcircuitexpo.org.

IPC is a U.S.-based trade association dedicated to the competitive excellence and financial success of its more than 2,800 member companies which represent all facets of the electronic interconnection industry, including design, printed wiring board manufacturing and electronics assembly. As a member-driven organization and leading source for industry standards, training, market research and public policy advocacy, IPC supports programs to meet the needs of a $44 billion U.S. industry employing more than 400,000 people.