IPC is a global trade association dedicated to furthering the competitive excellence and financial success of its members, who are participants in the electronics industry.

In pursuit of these objectives, IPC will devote resources to management improvement and technology enhancement programs, the creation of relevant standards, protection of the environment and pertinent government relations.

IPC encourages the active participation of all its members in these activities and commits to full cooperation with all related organizations.

--IPC Mission Statement (adopted May 5, 2008)

Perhaps no other organization in our industry polarizes people like IPC. For some, the association can do no right; others behave more like Obama volunteers walking lock-step with the president no matter what public approval ratings and unemployment statistics say.

Having just returned home from shooting a series of video interviews with IPC leadership, I'm convinced that the association is doing important work for our industry. Yes, if you look closely enough, you can find a target or two to snipe at (did someone say "halogen-free?"), but, overall, I'm happy to report that from my conversations with several staffers, the IPC is working on important projects that will serve the industry well.

First and foremost, the IPC has muted critics who, over the years, have claimed its global vision has dimmed the association's North American activities. In his interview, IPC Vice President of Programs Tony Hilvers discussed the organization's strong hand in the military electronics market. This includes supporting the formation of a PCB Executive Agent program and holding a very successful military electronics summit in Washington D.C. last December. By embracing military electronics--and the issues facing North American suppliers--IPC has emerged from a "we're a global organization" defense to a "we're helping the North American industry mine its most important market" offense.

And what's going on in the sometimes controversial international front? Well, of course, there's a huge effort in China. IPC Vice President of International Relations David Bergman said there are 12 IPC employees in China alone, growing to 15 this year--a testament to how important this market still is to IPC membership and the industry at large. Most notably, the first Chinese-developed standard will be completed this year--one that will actually be translated into English, rather than vice-versa.

IPC, through its Task Group activity, is going wherever circuit boards are made and assembled. Russia and Malaysia are two fledgling efforts that Bergman pointed out in his interview. One thing I thought about during this recording was how great a medium video is for capturing a person's passion and commitment to his mission. Whether you agree with the global nature of IPC's mission statement or not, watching David describe international activities will convince you that he has a firm belief in his work oversea.

All of the industry advocacy in the world (yes, I know, shameless pun) does not overshadow a core concern of IPC: Standardization. Another impassioned interviewee was Jack Crawford. He reviewed the standards IPC is working on and told us about four that are expected to be released at or before IPC APEX Expo in early April. Most notably, an updated revision of the critical IPC A610 Acceptability of Electronic Assemblies--with modern photos rather than lines and spaces out of a history book--will be delivered.  

Along with IPC-A-610, the association will release its companion revision of the A-600 Acceptability of Printed Boards. It's also releasing J-STD-001 Requirements for Soldered Electrical and Electronic Assemblies and IPC-A-6012 Qualification and Performance Specification for Rigid Printed Boards.