Spirit: Behind the Screen

Application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) can combine multi-functional components into a single chip. With long lead times and rising prices across the industry, you can own your custom IC, shorten lead times and reduce long-term costs.   Spirit's expertise helps you through the up-front design and engineering to make a full ASIC program possible. In this episode, Marti covers the steps and...

The CHIPS ("Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors") Act passed in July authorizes more than $200 billion in federal funds and incentives to encourage semiconductor manufacturing in the United States.   While the main goal is manufacturing, the CHIPS Act also addresses the services, labor and supply chain that support semiconductor production. Spirit CEO Marti McCurdy discusses in t...

Our JD Edwards Oracle enterprise resource planning software is a big system for a small business. Used by Fortune 500 companies, it can manage manufacturing, materials, work, and finances. But when Spirit Electronics implemented it several years ago, our processes only used maybe 5-10% of the program's capabilities. With investment and Megan's studied expertise, JDE has given Spirit's processes el...

The chambers are whirring and ovens firing in Spirit's on-site test lab . What's the buzz around adding so many options for testing under the same roof as authorized electronic component distribution and circuit board assembly ?   Marti McCurdy covers the order flow at the Spirit Electronics facility, including:   (2:47) The "umbrella" of services Spirit offers (6:00) Value-added test services com...

Spirit Gives is our nonprofit foundation working to give local kids quality childhood experiences and support.   CEO Marti McCurdy covers our current mission and successes and the next big events lined up for this fall 2022.   Find out more about how to support through volunteering, gift basket purchases, and ticket teasers for our Halloween Boogie Bash.   For our calendar or opportunities, visit...

In early 2021, CEO Marti McCurdy and producer Alyssa recorded a summary episode outlining the achievements and growth opportunities for Spirit as a business. We made some major progress, but we never could have predicted the long-reaching supply chain effects of the pandemic.   This "State of the Union" episode looks at the major service achievements of the Spirit team in 2021 along with our growt...

It's no secret that the Spirit business and sales team has grown by leaps and bounds in the last few years. Working in a small company offers many options for growth and cross-training experience.   But when it comes to scaling the team, host Marti McCurdy has found it necessary to target the team's growing pains. Enter our newly promoted Corporate Sales Team Lead Dan Jasinek.   Dan began with Spi...

This week Spirit's Lab Technician Corbin Pearson joins Marti to talk about our Epliog fiber laser machine.   The lab and warehouse have marked everything from name badges to phone cases, but real magic of fiber laser marking is in the ability to serialize and physically trace microelectronics and semiconductors through our value-added test programs.   Rather than relying on documentation and data,...

Spirit offers authorized distribution, testing to MIL-STD-883, and circuit card assembly. Is that the full turnkey or can you deliver product even closer to ready-to-use?   Jeremy Rolin, Spirit's Warehouse Manager, returns to Behind the Screen to talk about running custom box build programs, where circuit cards and components are assembled into a final deliverable product. Our flexible services an...

Electrostatic-discharge (ESD) is a universal experience as you walk across the floor and touch a door handle, but even an undetectable static discharge can damage an electronic component.   High-reliability electronics are particularly susceptible to ESD damage, which can often go undetected until it shows up as performance reductions or part failures.   Aerospace and Defense has largely moved to...

Marti is back with Tracey Latham to discuss how high-tech automated assembly can change the game with BGA reballing. Spirit's new process starts with robotic ball removal, and then our in-house partner Latham Industries uses their advanced assembly line equipment to place the new balls on the BGA.   The power of automation to control the ball placement and inspect the BGA really shines throughout...

Spirit's in-house circuit card assembly partner, Latham Industries , serves customers in aerospace & defense, but also in other industries.   Tracey is back on the podcast with Marti to talk about how the chip shortage is impacting board assembly specifically. After a year of supply constraints, delays, labor shortages and price increases, Marti and Tracey cover how the current supply is affec...

Spirit's VP of Business Development Zef Malik is focused on the future movement of the aerospace and defense markets.   While this year has brought allocation, price increases, and supply chain disruptions, Zef shares a forward-thinking view of where and how advanced manufacturing and cutting-edge tech will be growing across the United States.   Zef's belief is that to really secure the supply cha...

Tracey Latham and Latham Industries moved into Spirit's empty suite with a sweet automated pick-and-place line last summer. Spirit, and our customers, have started to see first-hand what this line can do.   Latham's assembly line includes solder paste application, pick-and-place, bake, wash and inspections every step of the way.   Hear Marti and Tracey talk about the highly technical placement of...

Renesas' (formerly Intersil) experience making components for the aerospace industry spans seven decades. Marti sits down with Josh Broline from Renesas's high-reliability unit to talk about what makes their rad-hard products such a cornerstone of space electronics.   Marti and Josh discuss: (1:00)  Renesas and the Intersil brand background (2:40)  Power management devices (5:05)  Power management...

Spirit's Ivan Santana is now our Director of Program Management after 10 years supporting our long-term agreements and supplier-managed inventory (SMI) programs. He's an expert at materials and resource planning (MRP) and can manage ordering and projections years in advance.   SMI programs allow us to order parts and materials well ahead of production dates and stock components for just-in-time de...

Marti speaks with Gary Reichmuth, Texas Instruments General Manager for Aerospace & Defense, about TI's approach to rad-tolerant products that meet the needs of New Space.   TI has a long history in the space industry, with parts currently hurtling into the unknown beyond our solar system on the Voyager missions. But "New Space," the recent shift from government space programs to commercial an...

This week, Spirit is bidding a fond farewell to our teammate Laura Bowling, who has worked with the company an impressive 29 years, starting in March 1992.   Many teammates have come and gone in that time, and the company has moved facilities, added services, and changed ownership. But Laura has always been there for us.   The most meaningful parts of her career that have kept her going when chip...

Whether you're concerned about facilities, high-reliability military equipment, or your local community networks, electromagnetic pulse (EMP) could disrupt your day-to-day capabilities. From leaving you without power to leaving you without data or sensitive equipment, having a plan to address EMP now protects you from equipment loss in the future.   Add in high-altitude electromagnetic pulse (HEMP...

Here's Part 1 of our HEMP interview. But no, we're not talking THAT kind of high! High-Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse is a special type of electromagnetic pulse (or EMP) that could easily smoke our infrastructure. This kind of HEMP could wreak havoc on our power grids, communication, and critical electronic operations, leaving us in the dark and vulnerable.   In this episode, Dan Rebeck from Infin...

What does your component testing and qualification need to include? We've talked with experts about electrical testing, PEMs qualification, XRF , acoustic microscopy . But what your test program tests and how is going to depend on your product and its application.   Spirit team member Sean Macdonald has talked with customers big and small across multiple applications, for single parts all the way...

XRF, or X-ray Fluorescence analysis is a nondestructive compositional analysis, especially useful in the Aerospace & Defense industry for verifying lead composition and finishes. Hitachi produces several analyzers from handheld all the way up to bench analyzers that can identify elemental composition, measure coating thickness, and perform complex mapping.   In today's episode, product manager...

Spirit's team includes several veterans who have served in our nation's military, some even still in reserve or Guard service. It's a major challenge to juggle a civilian career with the demands of military service. This week, Team Spirit is saying farewell to our teammate Zac who is headed out for a year of active deployment.   Zac joined Spirit only a few months ago for his first ever corporate...

In the replay of this popular episode, Marti and EPC Space's CEO Bel Lazar talk about GaN reliability and performance in extreme space environments.   With growing interest in public and private space ventures and our increased dependence on satellite networks and space tech, devices like EPC Space's GaN products must withstand radiation and extreme temperatures.   Jump to these times to hear abou...

What does it take to send your child back to school prepared for success? Any parent can tell you, it takes more preparation and investment than you think!   Our Back-to-School Backpack & Suppliers Drive is collecting school supplies, backpacks, and donations to support 29 local children to start off the school year. You can make a donation at SpiritGives.org , drop off supplies locally at our...