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NSWC Crane Recommended as Executive Agent for Printed Circuit Board Technology

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080519-04
Release Date: 5/19/2008 10:10:00 AM

By Mary Camacho, Crane Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center Public Affairs

CRANE, Ind. (NNS) -- Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane Disvision will serve as the oversight facility for the U.S. Navy's role as executive agent for printed circuit board (PrCB) technology.

This recommendation was made in a March 2008 report to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees regarding DoD implementation of the National Research Council (NRC) Committee recommendations on manufacturing trends for PrCB.

"NSWC Crane Division is a Navy asset for printed circuit board technology" said Steve Mitchell, technical director, NSWC. "Assignment of this role to Crane will take advantage of the Navy's investment in people and infrastructure in this technology."

A DoD team of stakeholders and subject matter experts led by the Defense Logistics Agency and NSWC Crane analyzed, evaluated and commented on the findings and recommendations contained in the NRC study to develop this response to the congressional direction.

"NSWC Crane is critical to the Department of Defense because it provides technical engineering solutions and total lifecycle leadership for many systems that protect and enable our warfighter," said Mike Alexander, technical project manager for NSWC Crane and co-chair of the DoD response team.

Currently NSWC Crane is one of three DoD PrCB engineering and manufacturing facilities in the country. NSWC Crane has state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities with a technical staff supporting advanced manufacturing (current technology) and emerging technology development.

"NSWC Crane's personnel and facilities set the standard for excellence in acquisition, engineering and sustainment," said Roger Smith, PrCB technology branch manager. "Our experts collaborate with private industry and academic institutions to develop, transition, deploy and sustain safe and effective solutions for the warfighter."

NSWC Crane also serves as the DoD executor to the Emerging/Critical Interconnection Technology (E/CIT) program for the advancement of PrCB technology and processes.

The E/CIT program was established as a result of IPC (Association Connecting Electronics Industries) white papers on the state of military printed circuit board manufacturing in the United States. "The IPC has done a great job ensuring that the DoD has limited risk with respect to the printed circuit board industry" said Duane Embree, NSWC Crane technical director.

As a United States-based trade association, IPC devotes resources to management improvement and technology enhancement programs and the creation of relevant standards, many of which are used by the military and defense industry in support of warfighter systems.

For more news from Crane Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center, visit www.navy.mil/local/crane/.