Reliability Matters
Reliability Matters is a podcast on the subject of reliability of circuit assemblies. Reliability "best practices" and success stories are discussed. This podcast features interviews with experts in the electronic assembly industry.
All electronic production segments which effect product reliability are on the table. This includes contamination, coating, cleanliness assessment, inspection, building for harsh environments, reflow, printing, failure analysis, board fabrication, and much more.
Your Host:
Mike Konrad began his career in the electronic assembly equipment industry in 1985. Mike founded Aqueous Technologies in 1992 in response to the Montreal Protocol and the resulting international treaty banning most popular cleaning/defluxing solvents.
Mike is an internationally known speaker on the subject of increasing reliability through contamination removal and cleanliness quantification techniques and procedures. Mike was awarded “Distinguish Speaker Status” with SMTA in 2018 and received the “Rich Freiberger Best of Conference Award” in 2019.
Mike is a member of the SMTA Global Board of Directors where he is Vice President of Communications. Mike is also Vice President of Technical Programs for the Los Angeles / Orange County SMTA Chapter.
Visit the Reliability Matters Podcast Website:
https://www.reliabilitymatterspodcast.com
- Update frequency
- every 13 days
- Average duration
- 54 minutes
- Episodes
- 181
- Years Active
- 2018 - 2025
Episode 137: Building a Sustainable Career with a Sustainable Impact
Today, we delve into the crucial aspects of maintaining well-being on this journey—how to sidestep the notorious burnout, and perhaps more importantly, how to fuel and maintain your motivation. Becau…
01:15:40 |
Tue 13 Feb 2024
Episode 136: Environmentally Responsible/Sustainable Conformal Coating with Dr. Cassandra Zentner
We covered the topic of ultrathin conformal coatings back in November. We covered various conformal coating materials from traditional acrylics and silicones to ultrathin parylene coatings. What othe…
01:04:07 |
Tue 23 Jan 2024
Episode 135: A Conversation with Dr. Zach Peterson about Board Design Best Practices
In today's increasingly connected and digital world, PCBs are the unsung heroes that power our devices, from smartphones to spacecraft. Yet, the art and science of designing these crucial components …
01:13:54 |
Tue 09 Jan 2024
Episode 134 - 2023 Podcast Season Wrap-Up
On this episode, I have no guests as this is the final episode of the Reliability Matters Podcast for the 2023 season. Instead, let's review what happened on the podcast this year.
A special thanks to…
A special thanks to…
00:08:55 |
Tue 26 Dec 2023
Episode 133: Novel Wireless / Wearable ESD Monitoring
We are all aware of the damage electrostatic discharge can wreak on components and electronic products. We mitigate ESD damage through various forms of monitoring. We wear wrist and heel straps, stan…
01:05:55 |
Tue 12 Dec 2023
Episode 132: A Conversation about Ultra-Thin Conformal Coating with HZO's Lisa Rizzo
Today we’ll dive deep into the world of conformal coating.
More and more assemblies are being subjected to conformal coating to protect the assembly from harsh environments. What’s leading the drive …
More and more assemblies are being subjected to conformal coating to protect the assembly from harsh environments. What’s leading the drive …
01:00:42 |
Tue 28 Nov 2023
Episode 131: A Conversation with Industry Icon Bob Willis
We are all aware of the supply chain issues our industry has faced. Beginning with electronic components, it has spread to so many other types of parts are industry relies on. Fortunately, it looks l…
01:09:24 |
Tue 14 Nov 2023
Episode 130: Human-Centered Approaches to Innovation with Dr. Alexis Abramson
Some of you may recall episode 121 where I spoke with Dr. John Mitchell, president and CEO of IPC about his new book “fire your hiring habits”. During that episode, we talked about best practices for…
01:03:25 |
Tue 24 Oct 2023
Episode 129: Network Reliability - Avoiding Cyber-Security Threats
We talk almost exclusively about reliability on this show. Specifically, reliability of circuit assemblies. We discuss production best practices, design for manufacturing and reliability. Failure ana…
01:16:00 |
Tue 10 Oct 2023
Episode 128: Industry Standards Explained with Leo Lambert
Those of us in the electronic assembly space are no doubt aware of standards. In the simplest terms, standards tell us how to build products correctly. They differentiate correct from incorrect. They…
01:03:21 |
Tue 26 Sep 2023
Episode 127: Ask the Experts - A Conversation with Phil Zarrow & Jim Hall
Welcome to another episode of the Reliability Matters podcast. For those of you keeping track, this is episode number 127.
In recent episodes, we’ve covered high-level issues, such as hiring best prac…
In recent episodes, we’ve covered high-level issues, such as hiring best prac…
00:58:59 |
Tue 12 Sep 2023
Episode 126: Moisture Mitigation Strategies with Dan Jenkins and Rob Lowery
Moisture. The industrial world has been fighting moisture since the beginning of the industrial world. From a general point of view, moisture leads to issues such as • Mold and mildew • Rust • Wood r…
01:00:17 |
Tue 22 Aug 2023
Episode 125: DFM Best Practices with Pride Industries' Engineering Manager Andrew Williams
As all of you are well aware, this show is all about reliability, specifically reliability of circuit assemblies. One challenge that seems to be persistent within our space is design for manufacturab…
01:07:28 |
Tue 08 Aug 2023
Episode 124: Industry Icon Dave Hillman's Amazing 3,600 Mile Kayak Journey Down the Missouri River
Industry icon Dave Hillman completed a 3,600 mile solo kayak journey down the Missouri River. I spoke with Dave about the inspiration for the journey, insights gained over his four-month expedition, …
01:21:05 |
Tue 25 Jul 2023
Episode #123: Introduction to HALT – Highly Accelerated Life Testing with Dr. Christopher Jackson
We all strive to build products that are reliable. If you’re listening to our watching this podcast, chances are you are concerned about or at least interested in reliability. Where does reliability …
01:05:57 |
Tue 11 Jul 2023
Episode 122: The Integration of AI Into Inspection Systems
When it comes to circuit assemblies, there are defects, which result in one of two situations. The preferred result of a defect is to capture it on your factory floor and repair it before it ships to…
01:09:08 |
Tue 27 Jun 2023
Episode 121: Dr. John Mitchell discusses his new book "Fire Your Hiring Habits"
Most of us are well aware of the supply chain shortages, both within our industry and well beyond. Some of us are also keenly aware of labor shortages. This show is all about reliability of circuit a…
01:10:00 |
Tue 13 Jun 2023
Episode 120: Making Reliability Training Entertaining and Effective
Can reliability training the both entertaining and effective? The Manufacturing Game's Michelle Ledet Henley has a different approach to traditional training methods.
Michelle Ledet Henley has worked …
Michelle Ledet Henley has worked …
00:59:25 |
Tue 23 May 2023
Episode 119: Quantum Mechanics Explained
I first met my guest at the SMTA Pan Pacific Symposium in Hawaii this past January. He was presenting a paper entitled Quantum Technology, A Theoretical Overview of the Possibilities. The more I list…
00:58:48 |
Tue 09 May 2023
Episode 118: Making "Big Data" Useful with Intraratio's Ryan Gamble
The subjects of Industry 4.0 and Big Data have been widely discussed on this podcast. What is Industry 4.0? What data is our industry collecting? And, perhaps more importantly, how can we sift throug…
01:20:03 |
Tue 25 Apr 2023
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