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FEATURES

Procurement
Best Practices for Improving the PCB Supply Chain
PCBs should always be considered a critical commodity. Without stringent controls in place for board supplier selection, qualification and management, long-term product quality and reliability is neither achievable nor sustainable. Here are best practices and recommendations for improving your supply chain
by Cheryl Tulkoff and Craig Hillman, Ph.D.

PCB Design
Resolving EMI Effects in High-Speed Boards
The biggest effect EMI has on a design is that a product that doesn’t pass government requirements (FCC, for example) for radiated emissions cannot be shipped. But even if the product passes, and it is still radiating, it means reduced margins for signals and possible reliability issues – and usually increased susceptibility to outside noise. Most problems can be avoided simply by making sure all currents travel in a closed loop.
by Patrick Carrier

NTI-100
The 90-10 Split
Currency fluctuations had a big impact on the largest 104 printed circuit board manufacturers in 2011. Still, while making up less than 4% of the world's shops, the NTI-100 contributed more than 80% of the revenue.
by Dr. Hayao Nakahara

Talking Heads
P.D.-NCAB Deal Accelerates the Changing Channel
David Wolff discusses the decision behind board distributor P.D. Circuits' sale to NCAB.
by Mike Buetow

FIRST PERSON

• Caveat Lector
  Bringing it back.
  Mike Buetow
  
  
  

MONEY MATTERS

• ROI
  Migration inflation.
  Peter Bigelow

TECH TALK

• Designer’s Notebook
  Minimizing insertion loss.
  David Wiens

• The Flexperts
  The cost of impedance control.
  Mark Verbrugge

• Tech Tips
  Felling the bridge.
  Robert Dervaes

• Solar Technologies
  How PV cells are used.
  Tom Falcon

• Technical Abstracts
  In case you missed it.