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Reliability Matters

Reliability Matters

Written by: Mike Konrad
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About this listen

 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.comCopyright Mike Konrad Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Advances in Dispensing Automation and Thermal Management with PVA’s Jon Urquhart - Episode 184

    Advances in Dispensing Automation and Thermal Management with PVA’s Jon Urquhart - Episode 184
    Jan 13 2026
    Today, I’m joined by someone who has spent more than three decades at the intersection of materials science, automation, and high-reliability manufacturing.

    Jon Urquhart is the Director of Global Applications Engineering at Precision Valve and Automation — one of the world’s leading developers of dispensing, coating, and industrial motion-automation systems. Since joining PVA in 1993, Jon has become widely recognized for his expertise in fluid material processing, precision dispensing, and the engineering-to-manufacturing handoff that so often makes or breaks product reliability.

    Jon holds multiple patents and has helped shape advanced processes used in industries where the stakes couldn’t be higher — from aerospace and EV battery systems to semiconductor packaging, medical devices, and high-density electronics assembly. His work spans everything from protective coatings that safeguard electronics in extreme environments, to next-generation thermal interface material (TIM) deposition, to automation strategies that reduce human error, improve consistency, and dramatically scale production.

    We’ll discuss the real-world challenges of protecting critical electronics and batteries, the latest advances in TIM materials and deposition, sustainable precision-coating techniques, and the power of a strong collaboration model between vendors, manufacturers, and lab technicians.

    PVA Website:
    https://www.pva.net

    Jon Urquhart:
    jurquhart@pva.net
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    50 mins
  • Preserving Knowledge,Advancing Reliability: A Reliability Matters Podcast Year-End Reflection - #183

    Preserving Knowledge,Advancing Reliability: A Reliability Matters Podcast Year-End Reflection - #183
    Dec 23 2025
    Since 2018, Reliability Matters has been building a knowledge vault, capturing the wisdom of industry experts for engineers everywhere.

    In this special year-end episode, we celebrate the journey, the growth, and the community that made it possible.
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    10 mins
  • Getting it Right: How to Work Effectively with your CM - With Daniel Stanphill & Sean Kincaid

    Getting it Right: How to Work Effectively with your CM - With Daniel Stanphill & Sean Kincaid
    Dec 9 2025
    Today, we’re continuing our dive into the world of contract manufacturing—a vital piece of the electronics ecosystem.

    Joining me are two industry leaders who know this space inside and out. First, we have Daniel Stanphill, SMT Process Engineer at Aurora Boardworks, and alongside him, Sean Kincaid, President of K & F Electronics.

    Both Daniel and Sean represent companies that provide contract manufacturing services to a wide range of customers, helping turn design concepts into dependable, production-ready circuit assemblies.

    In this conversation, we’ll explore what makes for a successful relationship between contract manufacturers and their customers. We’ll talk about the types of customers they look for, the challenges they face in today’s manufacturing environment, and the common mistakes that can derail a project if not addressed early on.

    Most importantly, we’ll dig into best practices that can help customers and manufacturers work together more effectively.

    You may recognize Daniel and Sean. In addition to their day jobs, Daniel and Sean, along with Elias Malfavon Jr. are also co-hosts of the d-code podcast, where they share candid conversations and insights from across the electronics industry.

    We’ll hear what inspired them to launch the show and how it ties into their mission of building stronger connections in this field.

    So whether you’re an engineer, a buyer, or anyone working with contract manufacturers, this episode is packed with advice to help you navigate the process with confidence.

    Daniel is an SMT Process Engineer at:
    Aurora Boardworks
    https://auroraboardworks.com

    Sean is President of:
    K & F Electronics
    https://www.circuitboards.com
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    1 hr and 6 mins
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