Yes, at some point in time the present day  technologies will be replaced by new ones. But the new ones have not really shown themselves clearly yet. 
When looking at past changes I have noticed that old technologies kind of go through a revival stage when the new ones show up. As an example, CRTs improved noticeably when flat panel displays started to pop up, but are now essentially gone. Vacuum tubes became smaller, as in nuvistors, but transistors won.
Can we expect some noticeable improvements in today's assembly and packaging processes before they will also be delegated to the dustbins of time?


Ahne.


-----Original Message-----
From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Pete
Sent: 18 January, 2012 7:11 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [TN] What is the future of electronics assembly?

Interesting discussion indeed.  I see a lot of predictions about the need for legacy work, which will keep people employed.  But it's the leading edge, new technologies that will make up the bulk of the bulk of the work, and profit.

As a PCB designer, I have to approach this from a different perspective.  I know how to design for the current technology, but once it's designed, there's not much legacy work I can count on.  How do I design for Occam?  Or the next idea?  Nano technology and graphene could completely change the component/solder/copper/laminate structure.  PCB design could become more like IC design.  I don't want to be the guy justy hanging on to old tech, I want to be learning and implementing the latest and greatest.  

If I'm not one of the ones ready to understand and design the new technology, I'll be one of the youngest Wal-Mart greeters in the store.

Pete

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