-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- smt007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueComing to Terms With AI
In this issue, we examine the profound effect artificial intelligence and machine learning are having on manufacturing and business processes. We follow technology, innovation, and money as automation becomes the new key indicator of growth in our industry.
Box Build
One trend is to add box build and final assembly to your product offering. In this issue, we explore the opportunities and risks of adding system assembly to your service portfolio.
IPC APEX EXPO 2024 Pre-show
This month’s issue devotes its pages to a comprehensive preview of the IPC APEX EXPO 2024 event. Whether your role is technical or business, if you're new-to-the-industry or seasoned veteran, you'll find value throughout this program.
- Articles
- Columns
Search Console
- Links
- Events
||| MENU - smt007 Magazine
Zentech’s John Vaughan on the Mil/Aero Sector: “It’s Headed Up”
April 9, 2015 | Barry Matties, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
I-Connect007 Publisher Barry Matties and Zentech’s John Vaughan had a chance to discuss industry concerns within the mil/aero segment at IPC APEX EXPO 2015. The two also shared thoughts on the space industry, and Vaughan detailed Zentech’s involvement with National Manufacturing Day, a nationwide effort focused on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) that simultaneously brought high school students together with 1,600 manufacturing companies from around the U.S.
Barry Matties: John, let's start by having you tell me a little bit about Zentech.
John Vaughan: Zentech Manufacturing, Inc. is an electronics contract manufacturer and contract engineering services business based in Baltimore, Maryland. We’re privately held, and in addition to operating three SMT lines, we have box build capabilities, and we’re highly certified; in fact, we're the second facility in the United States that was certified to the IPC Trusted Source QML Class 3 program, and Zentech was the very first certified to IPC J Standard 001 for space processing. We also hold AS9100 certification for the aerospace sector, and medical ISO 13485.
Matties: What's your position at Zentech?
Vaughan: I’m vice president of sales and marketing. I transitioned to direct with Zentech back in October after five years representing their business interests in the military C4ISR sector. The primary goal in my going direct is to build-out the Zentech brand nationally and we have gotten excellent traction in that respect over the past two quarters.
Matties: And how long have you been in the industry?
Vaughan: Well, I’ve been in the industry for all of my life, literally. My father and some partners constructed a contract manufacturing operation, Airtronics, in 1964 in Northern Virginia, outside of Dulles Airport, supporting the U.S. Air Force and Navy radar manufacturing. As a young man, I grew up in the business and learned technology manufacturing from the ground up, processing sheet metal, building printed circuit boards and manufacturing cable and wire assemblies, the whole deal. Though it has changed ownership several times through the years (Automata, DDi), proudly, the facility still stands and is still operational today building advanced technology circuit boards as Viasystems - Sterling.
Matties: Now you're in Washington, DC, right?
Vaughan: Zentech itself is in Baltimore, Maryland, and I reside outside of Washington, DC, in Fairfax, Virginia. As you know, it’s a large and combined metropolitan area with a very target rich mil/aero environment – given that 20+ of the military primes have their headquarters in the region to ensure their proximity to the Pentagon.
Matties: So from your point of view, obviously you have a lot of insight into the military segment of this industry, how do you see the condition of the mil /aero industry, and where do you see it heading?Page 1 of 2
Suggested Items
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
05/17/2024 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007 MagazineThis week, trade shows are at the top of our feed, with our coverage of the Del Mar Electronics and Manufacturing Show and IPC APEX EXPO. These two longtime events are almost polar opposites in size and scope, but Del Mar seems to be expanding from its roots as a “neighborhood gathering” with its move into the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The Del Mar show always has a good “buzz factor,” which is something you can’t buy.
Real Time with… IPC APEX EXPO 2024: Insulectro on Attracting Young Talent to the Electronics Manufacturing Industry
05/16/2024 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPOInsulectro's Doug Gotelli and Mitchell Benson explore the challenges of drawing young talent into the electronics manufacturing industry. They underscore the significance of manufacturing and the urgency of tackling the workforce shortage. They also discuss internship programs, the industry's resilience amid the pandemic, and the rewarding experiences of working in this sector.
Siemens, Foxconn Team Up to Optimize Forward-thinking Manufacturing
05/16/2024 | FoxconnSiemens AG, a leading technology company, and Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn), the world’s largest electronics manufacturer, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to drive digital transformation and sustainability in smart manufacturing platforms.
TRI Opens New Manufacturing Facility
05/16/2024 | TRITest Research, Inc. (TRI), the leading test and inspection systems provider for the electronics manufacturing industry, announced that it has opened a state-of-the-art R&D and manufacturing facility.
SEMICON West 2024 to Spotlight U.S. Chip Industry Investments, Supply Chain Resilience, Talent, and Global Growth and Innovation
05/15/2024 | SEMISEMICON West 2024 will gather industry experts and leaders July 9-11 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco for insights into the latest trends and innovations in sustainability, supply chain management, workforce development and other critical industry issues.