| ASK THE EXPERT |
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BEST's "Ask the Expert" column is designed to give one-one dialogue between a questioner and our master instructor Kris Roberson.Specification, processing and inspection questions are answered here.
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| PRODUCTS & SERVICES |
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The BEST PCB Repair Training series includes a group of 9 different professional PCB repair training videos. The techniques are clealry taught via professional narration as well as under the microscope views of "how to repair" a PCB.
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 BEST INDUSTRY FORUMS |
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This Industry forum is a discussion area where opinions are given on equipment and processes, help is given on process problems and resources for problem-solving and troubleshooting are shared.
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Reduce Your Rework Costs
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BEST can take a bite out of your rework costs. Call (847) 797-9250 and ask Laura how we may be able to help!
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Training Coupon
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From now until
12/31/2008 BEST is offering a training coupon for any IPC (A-610D CIT, IPC
7711/7721 CIT, and the IPC JSTD 001D CIT) CIT class which can redeemed for
either:
1. 10% off OR
2. $250.00 BEST Buy Gift Card OR
3.$250.00 Coach Gift Card
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Dear Subscriber;
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In this last 2008 edition of the BEST newsletter the main topics include:
- PCB Repair Training Videos
- Laser Machining of Electronics
I have also inserted below a review of the pros and cons of one of the biggest topics of the day....the automobile industry "bailout". See the article below for some thought-provoking disc.ussion points on both sides of the issue.
We thank all of our customers for your support in 2008 and hope that 2009 brings you and yours much happiness.
Christmas means a time for fellowship, feasting, giving and receiving, a time of good cheer and home.
Merry Christmas and a Healthy Happy New Year!
Bob Wettermann
President, BEST Inc
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Cost-Effective PCB Repair Training
BEST has developed a series of PCB repair videos each a few short minutes in length that can teach your repair technicians the "tricks of the trade" with respect to PCB repairs. Each training video can be played on your PC and includes video from 3 separate angles. Voice instruction guides users on the most common 7721 repair procedures with the senior instructor staff at BEST providing the techniques and instruction. Rent a few minutes of time with the best PCB repair staff in the country. Repair videos can be purchased as the entire repair video series or individually. The topics include:
- Pad Repair
- Trace Repair
- Mask Repair
- Laminate Repair
- Eyelet Repair
Find out more specifics here.
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Laser Services for Electronics
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BEST Inc. utilizes lasers as a high
precision machining tool for various electronic assemblies. BEST
technicians can help you design a laser-based process or laser-machined
product for the electronics industry. Whether
you need to have a PCB board reworked, polyimide material selectively
removed from a flex circuit or specialty heat shield precision
machined, BEST is your source for this knowledge.
Find our more... about our laser machining capaibilities.
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 Pros and Cons of the Auto Bailout
As of this writing there is still lots of debate taking place at kitchen tables, locker rooms and restaurants about the auto industry "bailout". Here are some pros and cons...
Pros - Why the bailout is necessary
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Approximately 10% of US employees are employed in the auto industry or
by its suppliers/dealers. Of this, the Big three and their suppliers
employ more than 2.5 million people, amounting to nearly 2 percent of
the nation's work force. So by having them undertake massive cost cutting layoffs could result in a sharp spike in
US unemployment and further depress consumer spending. It will
virtually wipe out the Detroit economy. Supporters of the bailout say it is critical in stemming massive unemployment and downward spiraling of the US economy.
- GM, Chrysler and Ford (F) are iconic brands and letting them fail will further shatter market confidence.
- A bailout with strict
conditions will allow a government mandated restructure of the US
automakers and forcefully overcome resistance of the strongest union in
the nation, the United Auto Workers (UAW) union, that has strongly pushed back on change to the relatively generous terms it is used to operating under.
- The pressure on the US
automakers is intense and the fear of failure (or bankruptcy) is making
financial institutions reluctant to lend to them and their customers.
Cons - Why the bailout is a bad move
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Throwing good money after bad. Spending billions of taxpayer dollars
with no promises to reform the root causes of US automakers' chronic
lack of competitiveness will end up being a massive waste of funds.
- By extending the bailout
to the car industry, it will be only a matter of before other
struggling sectors and industries line up for
their share of bailout funds.
- It is questionable how effective government funded bailouts have been. The financial sector bailout plan - TARP
- has already spent half of its $700 billion budget and little has
changed in the economy which continues to worsen. While the financial
sector will recover in the long term because it is more efficient, it is questionable if any
amount of help will be able to help the chronically under performing US
automakers.
- Some free market advocates have argued that Bankruptcy may be a more effective way for the US
automakers to restructure operations. They will emerge smaller, more
focused and operationally effective without using tax payer funds. The
risk with this strategy is that customers stop buying cars from the bankrupt automakers and will instead turn to the viable foreign owned companies like Toyota and Honda.
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