# SMTA's Success: Insights from Guadalajara with Tom Forsythe

- Show: [EMS@C-LEVEL](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level)
- Published: 2024-09-17
- Length: 7m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-09-17-smtas-success-insights-from-guadalajara-with-tom-forsythe

## Summary

Tom Forsythe, Vice President of Kyzen Corporation and past SMTA board member, discusses the growth of SMTA's presence in Mexico, highlighting Guadalajara 2024 as a major industry hub. He explains how Mexico has become the largest importer into the US, driving the need for local collaboration and technical knowledge sharing among EMS providers. Forsythe contrasts the large-scale trade shows with the vital role of local SMTA chapters in fostering personal networks and solving specific engineering challenges.

## Chapters

- [0:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-09-17-smtas-success-insights-from-guadalajara-with-tom-forsythe#t=2) Introduction: Tom Forsythe and SMTA Guadalajara 2024
- [1:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-09-17-smtas-success-insights-from-guadalajara-with-tom-forsythe#t=60) Mexico's Rise as the Largest US Importer and Proximity Benefits
- [2:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-09-17-smtas-success-insights-from-guadalajara-with-tom-forsythe#t=148) SMTA as a National Conference and Clearinghouse for Engineers
- [3:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-09-17-smtas-success-insights-from-guadalajara-with-tom-forsythe#t=214) SMTA's History: From SMT Origins to Knowledge Sharing
- [4:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-09-17-smtas-success-insights-from-guadalajara-with-tom-forsythe#t=287) Upcoming SMT AI in Rosemont and 40th Anniversary Celebration
- [6:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-09-17-smtas-success-insights-from-guadalajara-with-tom-forsythe#t=368) The Vital Role of Local SMTA Chapters and Networking

## Topics

- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Maker community & events](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/maker-community)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- SMTA (other)
- Kyzen Corporation (company)
- Motorola (company)
- APEX (other)
- Productronica (other)
- Koh Young (company)
- Global Electronics Association (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Trade Show or Conference?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-07-11-trade-show-or-conference) (The Amp Hour)
- [Nearshoring Manufacturing from Asia to Mexico: Risks, Rewards, and Realities w/ Matt Hannula](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-10-07-nearshoring-manufacturing-from-asia-to-mexico-risks-rewards-and-realities-w-matt) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Mayan-on-Chip: Training Mexico's Next Semiconductor Engineers](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2026-07-15-mayan-on-chip-training-mexicos-next-semiconductor-engineers) (OnTrack)
- [Part Choice Triathlon](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-10-30-part-choice-triathlon) (The Amp Hour)
- [PCB West 2025: Electronics Industry Insights with Mike Buetow](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-10-31-pcb-west-2025-electronics-industry-insights-with-mike-buetow) (OnTrack)

## Citing this page

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