The IPC at 50: a celebration of the past often leads to optimism for the future.

I'M NOT ONE who usually likes to go to celebrations, especially for milestone birthdays or anniversaries. But I attended one in February that was not only enjoyable, it also reminded me what celebrations are all about.

The event was IPC's 50th anniversary dinner held during the IPC Expo/ Apex/Designers Summit in Los Angeles. I have to admit I attended more as a curiosity, but I left in awe. For those who may not know, IPC was founded in Chicago back in 1957 by a handful of circuit board companies who believed in the future of the, then infant, industry. Like any organization, it had a humble beginning filled with colorful stories about people who are now industry legends. Many of the organization's pioneers attended the dinner and the evening was filled with tales about those early years.

Bob Swiggett, founder of Photocircuits, described the technical environment of the early to mid-1950s, when few understood the implications of printed circuits. It is hard to believe that a short 50 years ago virtually no technology utilized circuit boards and electro-mechanical technology reigned supreme. It is equally amazing to realize that technology roadmaps looked backwards at what did not work as much as entrepreneurs kept marching forward into the unknown with little more than a blind belief that they were onto something--something big.

As the evening progressed, some industry professionals spoke about the current need for and efforts to develop standards so product is consistent and robust. Others spoke about the evolution of the industry in stature, geographic/ global significance and the sophisticated supply channel trends leading to the emergence and importance of assembly within the industry. Key representatives of the industry covering the entire fifty-year timeline imparted sage and humorous comments, as well as optimism about, and love for, the industry.

Several things struck me as great lessons that are as important today as they were fifty years ago; especially in the complex digital world we live and work in.

The first thing we need to remember is that we are indeed in an industry that is big. I don't necessarily mean big in size, but big as in important. No other industry affects, defines and drives as many facets of life throughout the world as does our industry. Designers shape the way we communicate, control, manage and distribute data and entertainment. Fabricators shape the size and cost drivers of the future. Assemblers shape the time to market that brings new technology to consumers and suppliers. Whether of raw materials, capital equipment or software, we are shaping the ability to provide cost effective solutions for many issues. We all participate in molding technology and society not just for today, but for generations to come.

Secondly, conventional wisdom and business models didn't have anything to do with the past success of our industry. Call it determination, timing, creativity, dumb luck or anything you like, but this industry has been blessed with some of the most creative, think out-of-the-box, entrepreneurial talent ever. Everyone who spoke during the anniversary dinner was open about the fact that they had no business plan, no idea of where they were going or even how they were going to get to the next step. But determination and belief in what they were doing drove them forward and enabled their work, their companies and the entire industry to thrive.

Finally, it was abundantly clear that this industry has, from the beginning, been all about people--technical people, sales people, visionary people, creative people and, most of all, optimistic people. Equally evident was the fact that these people actually like each other. Regardless of being a supplier or a customer (or even a competitor), people shared information, successes and failures. And in many, many cases they worked together and became the best of personal friends. This camaraderie was the origin of many colorful stories.

So, when the evening was over I was in awe. In awe that with so few resources people made the technical developments that we all take for granted today. In awe that so few, mostly unknown companies reshaped society, converting us from being reliant on relatively primitive appliances powered by tubes to the nanoelectronic digital age we are today.

If anyone thinks it is a tough environment we operate in today, just take a few minutes and think back to 1957 and imagine trying to boot strap a business based on non-proven technology being sold into a non-existent market! Now that's a tough-as-nails environment. And don't lose sight that our industry has always been about entrepreneurial spirit, throwing the rulebooks aside and believing in what you are doing despite the odds.

I think these reasons are why I love our industry and am proud to be a part of something so big. And when people talk about how it isn't like it used to be, all I can think is that in many ways nothing has changed. Focus on the task at hand no matter how daunting it may appear. Cherish and enjoy the people who make up the industry--who can be your best resources as well as your best friends--and remember to believe. Believe in what you are doing because it is shaping the future, and that is truly big!

PETER BIGELOW is president and CEO of IMI (imipcb.com). He can be reached at [e-mail].