About the Program
This full day program features ten practitioner-led sessions that deliver structured, practical education across the entire PCB ecosystem. Throughout the day, you'll explore the processes, equipment, and decisions that drive quality on the manufacturing floor. The program will close with a guided Expo walk, where you can have direct conversations with exhibitors whose products connect to what was just covered in the sessions.
Tuesday, October 27
8:30am - 5:00pm
Room TBD
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
Free to attend!
Included with any SMTAI registration
Who It's For
Whether you're new to electronics manufacturing or strengthening your foundational knowledge, Back 2 Basics is built for you. No prior conference experience required. No deep technical background assumed.
NEW TO INDUSTRY
Professionals in their first one to three years who want a structured foundation they have not had the opportunity to build yet.
STUDENTS & NEW GRADS
Recent graduates and students entering the field from engineering, technology, or technical programs.
CAREER CHANGERS
People coming from adjacent industries who need to get up to speed on electronics manufacturing processes quickly.
Session 1: From Design to Fab
8:30am - 10:00am
PCB Design: Where It All Begins
PCB DESIGN BASICS
Shawn McCutcheon
Go Technology Corporation
Behind the Scenes: PCB Fabrication
PCB FABRICATION
Kevin Dial
American Standard Circuits
Bridging the Design-to-Fab Gap
DESIGN FOR MANUFACTURABILITY
John Johnson
American Standard Circuits
Session 2: SMT Assembly Essentials
10:30am - 12:00pm
Mastering the First Step: Stencil Printing
STENCIL PRINTING BASICS
Adam Murling
Indium Corporation
Component Placement: Right Part, Right Place
COMPONENT PLACEMENT BASICS
Daniel Stanphill
Aurora Boardworks
Session 3: Solder, Repair, and Protect
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Reflow Soldering: What Really Happens
REFLOW BASICS
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Miles Moreau
KIC
Wave and Selective: When and Why
WAVE AND SELECTIVE SOLDERING
Gayle Towell
AIM Solder
Rework Strategies That Work
FIX IT RIGHT: REWORK BASICS
Nash Bell
BEST, Inc.
Session 4: Test and Verify + Guided Expo Walk
3:30pm - 5:00pm
Cleaning and Coating: Protect What You've Built
CLEANING AND CONFORMAL COATING
Elliott Fowler
Sandia National Laboratories
Trust But Verify: Test and Inspection
TEST AND INSPECTION
Brittany White
Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL)