🌎 “It’s not about borders—it’s about building together.”
Live from the IPC APEX 2025 show floor, we caught up with Jason Wahba of JW Corporation, who crossed the border (legally 😄) from Canada to talk all things automation, global manufacturing insights, and the future of lean electronics.
🇨🇦🇺🇸 Big thanks to Jason for the Unity Pins—combining the US and Canadian flags—and for sharing some sharp insights from his recent travels through Japan and Taiwan.
🤖 Key takeaways from our convo:
Why Asia is pulling ahead in automation—not just SMT, but process-wide, including low-cost cobots and automation strategies that start at the quoting phase
How their “automate first” mindset allows them to price competitively, scale faster, and defend against competition long-term
The biggest roadblock to adoption here? Not just cost—it’s the lack of implementation knowledge
Why lean manufacturers like us can’t afford not to automate, even in high-mix, low-volume environments
Why collaboration across borders and competitors isn’t just possible—it’s essential to grow the entire industry
Jason brought international experience, practical advice, and a heavy dose of humor—including a salute to his $40 Harbor Freight conformal coating setup 😆
This one was part community, part case study—and all heart. Thank you, Jason and JW Corp, for supporting the podcast and the mission of growing this industry together.