Markets, Mayhem and Manufacturing: Insights on the Future of Electronics Manufacturing in the America

EMS@C-LEVEL · 29 Apr 2025 · 16m

What this episode covers

Joel Scutchfield, General Manager of Koh Young America, discusses how economic headwinds and tariff uncertainties are creating a divide in the electronics manufacturing industry, with some companies pausing investment while others expand capacity. He explains that the post-pandemic growth surge was an anomaly, establishing a 'new normal' where manufacturers must leverage AI to increase productivity without expanding their workforce. Scutchfield details Koh Young's progression from data collection to 'agentic' AI systems, specifically highlighting their KAP (Koh Young Auto-Programming) tool and KPO (Koh Young Process Optimization) tools that automate parameter adjustments for printers and mounters. The conversation emphasizes that trustworthy, high-volume 3D data is the critical foundation for these autonomous, self-correcting systems that reduce human intervention on the factory floor.

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