BANNOCKBURN, Ill., USA — What forces will be shaping the electronics industry of the future? Answering this question will be the focus of the IPC Executive Market & Technology Forum Conference and the IPC Management Meetings, scheduled October 28–30, 2008, in Kissimmee, Fla.

“Planning the Future of the Electronics Industry” will be the theme of the IPC Management Meetings on October 28. Developed by senior level executives for senior level executives, the IPC Management Meetings are learning and networking forums for decision makers, focusing on business strategies specific to the electronics industry. There are Management Meetings for PCB, EMS, PCB supplier and assembly equipment industry executives.

All Management Meeting attendees will begin their day with “Doing Business in the Current Economy: A Supply Chain Perspective.” Representatives from the OEM, EMS, PCB and PCB supplier industries will discuss how the current state of the economy is impacting their businesses and what they need from the rest of the supply chain to be successful. After the joint session, attendees will join their peers for exclusive sessions dedicated to their segment of the supply chain.

“I never miss an IPC PCB Executive Management Meeting — it is an invaluable source of information for me. The agenda always addresses the issues that we, as an industry, are facing. But it is more than that. It is an opportunity for industry decision makers to come together and compare notes in an open and honest setting. I always walk away with a fresh perspective,” said Ren Sanscrainte, global account manager, Viasystems.

“High Impact Trends Shaping the Electronics Industry of the Future” will be the theme of the two-day Executive Forum Conference on October 29–30. This event will focus on market trends, new technologies and the economy — information that is vital to planning strategy. The conference will begin with the keynote address, “What in the World is Going On: An Intelligence Briefing for Executives,” featuring former Special Assistant to the Director of Central Intelligence and Vice Chairman of the CIA’s National Intelligence Council, Herbert E. Meyer.

The agenda also includes Walt Custer’s popular “Business Outlook for the Electronics Industry;” the latest research in photovoltaics and how it is being applied by companies in the electronics supply chain; and demand trends for PCBs and assemblies. Participants will also hear from an expert at Sanmina-SCI about technology trends for high-end system applications. In addition, highlights of two new IPC commissioned studies, “Opportunities in the Industrial Electronics Market” and “Environmental Megatrends Shaping the Future of the Electronics Industry” will be presented.

“The Executive Market & Technology Forum Conference is a small investment with a huge return,” said Mark Kannenberg, president, RBP Chemical Technology, Inc. “Where else can you get everything from a 30,000 foot view of the supply chain to one-on-one networking opportunities with key representatives of the supply chain’s individual companies, all in two days?”

For more information on the IPC Executive Market & Technology Forum Conference, go to www.ipc.org/NAEMTF2008. For more information on the IPC Management Meetings, visit www.ipc.org/ManagementMeetingBrochure08. To register for one or both meetings, go to www.ipc.org/ExecMeetingsUS.