Strategic Planning Meetings
Thanks for your input to a fresh and vibrant plan for the SMCBA and its members

Strategic Planning Meetings for the SMCBA were held in Melbourne on November 11 & 12 and Sydney on November 17 & 18, 1997. As a result of these meetings and the ideas and issues arising from them and from written submissions, the Executive Committee at its Special Strategic Planning Meeting held on November 25, was able to develop the foundation of a draft Business Plan for the Association. This plan will be responsive to members and industry expectations of the role it should play and services the SMCBA should provide in the future.

An ambitious set of initiatives and an action plan for 1998 was developed which draws on the traditional values and strengths of the SMCBA which have been the cornerstone of its success for nearly 10 years. The fundamental strength of the SMCBA is its members, the depth and breadth of their technical expertise and its ability to draw on that expertise. The Association is nimble, flexible and responsive with a clear vision of its role in the electronics industry in this region.

Members can expect a significant increase in activity by the SMCBA in its traditional areas of support and services to the industry and also in some areas that in the past have not received the priority they now deserve. This is not to say that the Association has underperformed in these areas it has been a question of priority based on availability of resources and to some extent know how.

The SMCBA today has better resources, improved know how and is developing a strategy of co-operation with others to better deliver its services.

A more informative article about the key strategies, initiatives and action plans will be published in Pick 'N' Place once the detail in the Business Plan has been approved. Please continue to see this process as an opportunity for expressing your ideas, your concerns, raising issues and providing criticism. Feedback is one of the most important and constructive communications tools - please let us know as we can't act if we aren't informed.

Thanks to all the members who participated in the Strategic Planning Meetings. Your input is greatly valued by myself and the Executive Committee
- Andrew Pollock, Executive Officer

Inaugural Australasian SMT Academy Set for May

The SMCBA in association with IHS Publishing (the publishers of SMT Magazine) and with the endorsement of the SMTA have established the Australasian SMT Academy. The first Academy will be held in Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland during May and will focus on "Advanced Surface Mount Technology and Assembly".

Technical Program Update

ANSI/J-STD-001B & IPC-A-610B:
These programs are proving of great interest to members - details on the Melbourne and Sydney courses have been sent out to members. Another round of courses is being scheduled for the second half of the year and courses are being planned for Adelaide and New Zealand. The course outlines are on page 2 - for further detail please complete the information request form. SMT Rework: A need for a cost effective short hands on course for SMT Rework was requested by members and we have responded - courses are scheduled for most centres, others to follow.

ANSI/J-STD-001B Training Now Available in Australia & NZ

The SMCBA in association with the Canberra Institute of Technology is pleased to make training to this standard available to the electronics industry in this region. ANSI/J-STD-001B Requirements for Soldered Electrical and Electronic Assemblies is the Industry standard for commercial and high reliability assemblies. The operator/inspector training program is designed to improve soldering practices and processes through a knowledge based program for implementation, application, quality and process control, skills competency and performance.

For detailed information and course dates please tick the appropriate box on the information request form and return to the SMCBA or you can email your request to Andrew Pollock

IPC-A-610B Training and Certification Program

IPC-A-610B Acceptability of Electronic Assemblies is a must for all manufacturing and quality assurance personnel. The training and certification program covers information about the standard, instruction in the acceptability requirements of the standard and how to apply this to manufacturing criteria in your operations. Successful completion of the course provides the student with a well rounded background for electronic manufacturing acceptability requirements and they will receive an IPC Certificate.

For detailed information and course dates please tick the appropriate box on the information request form and return to the SMCBA or you can email your request to Andrew Pollock

SMT Rework Courses

The Melbourne course held in February was oversubscribed and another course will be offered in May or June. Brisbane course has only a handful of places left and the first Sydney workshop was booked out so a second one has been scheduled for April 20 & 21. A course will be conducted in Adelaide on April 30 and May 1, members in New Zealand stay tuned - July dates have been set aside for courses in Auckland and Christchurch.

Objective: To learn and perform hands on SMT rework on printed circuit assemblies with emphasis on proven rework procedures using "best manufacturing practices".

Who Should Attend: Technical and manufacturing personnel who are involved with the rework of surface mount devices.

• correct handling techniques of components
• preparation procedures
• workmanship and inspection criteria
• about and use latest rework techniques for removing and replacing various packaging types and lead configurations
• how to apply these to their company's products

• Introduction to SMT Soldering Techniques
• Component Identification
• Assembly Safety (ESD, Electromigration & Handling)
• Fluxes, Solders and Solvents
• Tools and Soldering Aids
• Preparation, Standards, Assembly Requirements
• The Soldering Process
• Component Removal
• Component Replacements
• Inspection and Evaluation
• Trends in SMT and the Future

Having mastered the basic practical skills required for the SMT process, course participants will be introduced to advanced soldering and desoldering techniques. Once a satisfactory competency level is attained participants will be asked to demonstrate the techniques - we encourage the use of company boards for this section but participants will also be provided with training kits.

Referenced Standards: ANSI/J-STD-001B, IPC-A-610B, ANSI/IPC-R-700C

The Instructor: Terry Clitheroe, Solder Technologies
Terry is a certified IPC-A-610 Class A Instructor. He has many years experience in soldering training and was previously a RAAF Instructor and responsible for training and course development in High Reliability Hand Soldering and Repair Techniques including SMT.
For further information tick the SMT Rework box on the information request form.

For Your Diary
Surface Mount '98
and Elenex '98
October 5-9
Melbourne

Thank You...
to Jan Friedrich, Morris Productions and Joe Hernandez, Precision Circuits for their presentations on New Board Finishes in Melbourne and Sydney.

• Strategic Planning
• Meetings - Results
• SMT Academy
• ANSI/J-STD-001B and
• IPC-A-610B Training
• SMT Rework Courses

Technical Incentives
Reminder to all members that we are offering an incentive to members to provide technical articles - a $25 credit for use against SMCBA workshop or conference fees.

***Welcome***

We welcome to the SMCBA the following Corporate Members:

• Berger Testfacilities
• Enermet
• Ingenico Int (Pacific)
• Nordson Australia
• Optiscan
• and Individual Members:
• Roland Beerli
• Reda Hussein

SMCBA MEMBERS INFORMATION REQUEST FORM

Name: ___________________________________________________________
Company: _______________________________________________________
Address: ________________________________________________________
______________________________________ Postcode: ________________
Phone: ______________________ Fax: _______________________
Email: _____________________________________

• ANSI/J-STD-001B TRAINING** - We are interested in this training for our operators please send further details on courses.
• IPC-A-610B TRAINING** - We are interested in this training and certification for our operators please send further details on courses.
• SMT Rework Please send details.
• IPC-A-610B INSTRUCTOR TRAINING** - In the next few months it is anticipated that Instructor training to IPC-A-610B will also be available in Australia, please tick here if you are interested in having someone trained as an instructor which will enable you to train your own operators.
• ** In-house training for IPC-J-STD-001B, IPC-A-610B and General or High Reliability Soldering and SMT Rework is available - please tick here if this is of interest to your organisation.
• IPC-A-600E - Acceptability of Printed Boards- The SMCBA is investigating the possibility of conducting this course in Australia - please tick here if this might be of interest to your organisation.
• IPC Designers Council: Please send details of the Australasian Chapter of the IPC Designers Council (for meeting dates see diary below).
• IPC Publications: Please forward a list of IPC publications.

FOR YOUR DIARY

March 30 to April 3: ANSI/J-STD-001B Sydney (will also be held in Adelaide & NZ)
April 6 & 7: SMT Rework Brisbane
April 16 & 17 and 20 & 21: SMT Rework Courses Sydney
April 20 to 22: IPC-A-610B Melbourne (will also be held in Adelaide & NZ)
April 29 to May 1: IPC-A-610B Sydney
April 30 & May 1: SMT Rework Course Adelaide
July 21 to 25: ANSI/J-STD-001B Melbourne
July 13 & 14: SMT Rework Auckland
July 16 & 17: SMT Rework Christchurch
August 3 to 7 ANSI/J-STD-001B Sydney
October 5 to 9: Surface Mount '98 and Elenex '98

IPC Designers Council Australasian Chapter meets each month in Sydney (first Tuesday of the month) and Melbourne (first Thursday of the month). The first regular meeting for Adelaide members will be held in May - details will be published in the next newsletter. Non members are welcome to attend a meeting for free to find out about the Council and the Australasian Chapter.