PCBs Make Modern Life Possible

PCBs 101

From medical devices to military jets, cars, the U.S. energy grid and nearly every sector of the economy, printed circuit boards (PCBs) are the electronic foundation of our modern world. They play a critical role in all aspects of our daily life and are a key element of our economy and national security.

A nighttime cityscape showing a river on the left and a brightly lit highway with light trails from cars on the right. The skyline is filled with illuminated skyscrapers against a dark sky.

Row of parked cars in a parking lot, captured from the rear, showcasing a variety of colors. The vehicles are aligned closely, with the focus on their taillights and bumpers. The scene is lit by soft, natural light, suggesting early morning or late afternoon.

What Is a Printed Circuit Board (PCB)?

PCBs are advanced microelectronics — the central nervous system of all electronic systems. Without PCBs, semiconductors cannot communicate with the devices or systems they power. They are highly customized, interconnected components with complex embedded circuitry that distribute power, information and signals throughout modern technology.

Illustration showing a central printed circuit board connected to six circles, each depicting different technologies: satellite, technician with screen, satellite dish, construction worker with power grid, jet fighter, and digital network.

Chips Don’t Float
Every semiconductor needs a PCB and substrate to function. This tech stack is part of the broader microelectronics infrastructure, crucial to America's defense and commercial systems.
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The Case for American- Made PCBs
Over the past 20 years, printed circuit board production and assembly has rapidly shifted away from the United States, primarily to Asia, where costs are driven down by foreign government subsidies. At one time, the U.S. produced almost 30% of the global market. Today that number is only 4%. We once had over 2,000 PCB manufacturers, assemblers and critical material suppliers. That number is now less than 145 companies.

Given the critical importance of PCBs, we must reestablish a robust, balanced, and sustainable U.S. PCB and IC substrate manufacturing capability.

Revitalizing Printed Circuit Board Manufacturing in the USA

Dependence on other countries creates risks for both U.S. national and economic security. While PCB manufacturing in the United States appears to be gaining momentum, more work needs to be done to level the playing field. We must balance the supply chain for sourcing PCBs and reduce dependence on foreign manufacturers.

U.S. companies need to be able to depend on reliable and stable supply chains. Through incentives, the U.S. government can provide a demand signal that reshoring is important — ensuring supply chains return to North America in sufficient numbers to reduce the risk of disruption through manmade or natural crises.

Our reliance on foreign PCB manufacturing is a national problem, both for U.S. companies that rely on their products and as a potential threat to national security by disrupting the supply of PCBs. Not only do foreign governments create unfair market conditions and put the U.S. at a competitive disadvantage, but those same foreign powers also have the ability to simply turn off the supply of PCBs to the United States and its allies.