SMTA International 2026

Back to Basics
Whether you’re new to electronics manufacturing or strengthening your foundational knowledge, Back to Basics provides a practical introduction to the PCB ecosystem. This full-day track at SMTA International features ten sessions led by industry practitioners covering the processes, equipment, and decisions that drive quality on the manufacturing floor.

Session Presentations
"PCB Design:  Where It All Begins" - Shawn McCutcheon, Go Technology Corporation
"Behind the Scenes: PCB Fabrication" -  Kevin Dial, American Standard Circuits
"Bridging the Design-to-Fab Gap" - John Johnson, American Standard Circuits

Back to Basics
Whether you’re new to electronics manufacturing or strengthening your foundational knowledge, Back to Basics provides a practical introduction to the PCB ecosystem. This full-day track at SMTA International features ten sessions led by industry practitioners covering the processes, equipment, and decisions that drive quality on the manufacturing floor.

Session Presentations
"Mastering the First Step: Stencil Printing" - Adam Murling, Indium Corporation
"Component Placement: Right Part, Right Place" - Daniel Stanphill, Aurora Boardworks

The Workforce Development and Student Technical Sessions are designed to engage both students and industry professionals through keynote presentations, interactive tables, and focused technical content on emerging technologies in electronics manufacturing.

Registration
Free and open to the public. RSVP for this session when registering for SMTA International.

Workforce Development Session
The session opens with a 30–45 minute keynote on emerging technologies intended to appeal to a broad audience — from students to experienced industry professionals. The keynote will incorporate real workforce data and statistics from recent SMTA events, including the Arizona session, and set the stage for the interactive table activities.

EMAC Update
Following the keynote, a 15–30 minute EMAC (Electronics Manufacturing Advisory Council) update will cover recent accomplishments, acknowledge academic and business partners, and preview upcoming initiatives. Back to Basics sessions will be incorporated into this segment.

Student Technical Sessions
The technical sessions run 90 minutes total, structured as three 30-minute presentations. Topics are focused on emerging technologies that connect directly to the keynote.

Topics:
•    AI in Electronics Manufacturing
•    3D Printing for Electronics Tooling
•    Emerging Nanotechnology

Back to Basics
Whether you’re new to electronics manufacturing or strengthening your foundational knowledge, Back to Basics provides a practical introduction to the PCB ecosystem. This full-day track at SMTA International features ten sessions led by industry practitioners covering the processes, equipment, and decisions that drive quality on the manufacturing floor.

Session Presentations
"Reflow Soldering:  What Really Happens" -  Miles Moreau, KIC
"Wave & Selective: When and Why" - Gayle Towell, AIM Solder
"Rework Strategies That Work" - Nash Bell, BEST Inc. 

Back to Basics
Whether you’re new to electronics manufacturing or strengthening your foundational knowledge, Back to Basics provides a practical introduction to the PCB ecosystem. This full-day track at SMTA International features ten sessions led by industry practitioners covering the processes, equipment, and decisions that drive quality on the manufacturing floor.

Session Presentations
"Cleaning and Coating:  Protect What You've Built" -  Elliott Fowler, Sandia National Laboratories
"Trust But Verify: Test and Inspection" - Brittany White, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL)

What is the Bright Electronics Manufacturing Challenge?
The Bright Electronics Manufacturing Challenge is an immersive, hands-on experience where student teams will design, fabricate, and test a custom printed circuit board to serve as the control center for a robot — simulating a real-world engineering product development cycle.

ROUND 2 - Assembly
$500 prize
Hands-on PCB assembly in a timed environment. During Round 2, the focus shifts to how well students assemble their PCBs, manage rework, and validate electrical functionality. Judging will emphasize soldering quality and workmanship.

Refuel, Recharge & Connect.

Join us at the SMTA Booth for complimentary drinks and light bites! This is a great opportunity to network, connect with fellow attendees, and unwind in a fun and relaxed atmosphere.