[Dialogue with cutting-edge KOL] Analyzing the development trend of the electronic test and measurement industry

Sarah Boen, Director of Strategic Technology and Advanced Integrated Circuits (AIC) at Tektronix, discusses the electronic test and measurement industry with Electronic Specifier

Boen advocates for a holistic and collaborative approach to advancing AI/ML technologies, arguing that innovation is essential to advancing society and can change the way we work and live. She reasons that technological development enables the industry to come up with new market solutions.

Sarah Boen, Director of Strategic Technology and Advanced Integrated Circuits (AICS) at Tektronix, spoke with Electronic Specifier. The following are highlights of the conversation.

The test and measurement industry has grown tremendously over the past decade. What are the key changes that are currently transforming the industry landscape?

Having had the privilege of working in the test and measurement industry for the past two decades, I can say that the industry is currently experiencing tremendous and exciting change. The test and measurement industry has moved from providing generic solutions that customers needed to tailor to their specific needs to providing solutions around market and application requirements. Test and measurement professionals now have the opportunity to connect closely to understand the end-user application, not just the product itself. We have a more defined relationship with our customers, and can innovate to meet specific customer needs and address specific customer challenges.

Another major market shift that is impacting the current test and measurement landscape is the growing number of industry alliances, consortium organizations, and ecosystems. Tektronix is ​​part of a larger ecosystem that is not centered around just one company or organization. New talent is entering the field, creating a truly rich, rapidly changing industry. The industry is diversifying, both from the perspective of those working in the test and measurement field and from the perspective of the customers we serve. I find this shift exciting because it brings more opportunities and fosters collaboration across the industry. For anyone working in the test and measurement field, whether early in their career or already in a leadership position, there is a real opportunity to innovate, disrupt, and impact the industry.

In the age of artificial intelligence and machine learning, what impact have these technologies had on test and measurement processes? Are we seeing real improvements in accuracy and efficiency?

Of course, artificial intelligence and machine learning are hot topics right now, and for good reason. As Tektronix continues to deliver cutting-edge solutions in the electronics space, artificial intelligence and machine learning are important areas of research for us. Our AI/ML initiatives are driving us to think strategically about how we deliver solutions, what we deliver, and how Tektronix as a company engages with our customers.

As with any discussion of emerging technologies, I like to think about the potential applications of AI/ML in three ways:

1) How can we leverage AI/ML to meet customer needs and improve the overall customer experience?

2) How do we adapt to the use of these new technologies?

3) Internally, can these tools be used to improve efficiency?

One of the biggest challenges our customers face is time, so they are looking for ways to increase employee productivity with the help of technology. AI is a technology that can be used to solve customer problems in entirely new ways, with the end result being to maximize the efficiency of workflows. For example, using AI to reduce testing time can not only help our customers get products to market faster, but also reduce the overall cost of the production process. As new technology solutions become available, we are constantly exploring ways to leverage new technologies to help our customers meet complex challenges. Today, AI and machine learning are key enabling technologies that can be used to address this challenge.

To take full advantage of AI and ML technologies, leaders in test and measurement are investigating use cases for these two technologies in other industries. We are also leveraging forward-thinking partners. For example, Tektronix is ​​investigating how to test AI- and ML-enabled devices and how these devices work together in a connected network, and the 6G project at the University of Texas at Austin is a perfect fit. This is bringing new opportunities to the test and measurement industry.

Another use case for AI and ML is in production. We have the opportunity to use these tools to make our products more reliable and accurate, and we are also looking at how to leverage these tools to enhance Tektronix’s collaboration with suppliers to create the next generation of AI and ML-enabled products. Another area of ​​research for production is how to improve the digital experience for our customers. In short, we want to understand the technology holistically and apply it in a variety of ways to improve the overall experience of our customers doing business with Tektronix.

What are the main challenges facing test and measurement professionals today? How are they addressing them through innovative solutions and R&D?

Technology is changing at a rapid pace, which is both exciting and challenging. This means room for innovation in the engineering design of test and measurement products, and new opportunities for improvement in actual customer product testing methods.

At Tektronix, the technical team is responsible for identifying these emerging technologies by taking the lead in early research. Through research, we can understand which technologies have future application significance, but the real key is to collaborate in early research to understand the application as early as possible. If a technology does not have application significance now, it may become useful in the future as the technology matures. For example, we are studying the practical applications of 6G technology in the future from a test and measurement perspective.

Another challenge is that market inflection points are occurring much faster than in the past. This requires us to identify all potential productivity improvements internally so that we can bring our solutions to market faster and meet customer needs. To achieve this goal, we will seek support and collaboration from both internal and partners.

How can the test and measurement industry adapt to the growth of Industry 4.0 while ensuring secure and reliable data collection, especially as device connectivity continues to expand?

As a test and measurement supplier, now is an excellent time to innovate in solutions that will be used to test components connected to future networks and used to support electrification, safety and other emerging applications. As we seek to address safety issues, we have the opportunity to look at these challenges from two different perspectives: how our products can help and how Tektronix can support the realization of the overall future of safe communications.

Security is our top priority for all our products. New security threats and solutions are changing rapidly, and this is a top priority for the electronics industry, including Tektronix. There is a constant stream of news about security attacks and breaches on networks in all industries, and the test and measurement industry is no exception. In electronics, security is an industry-wide issue that needs to be addressed.

Tektronix is ​​fortunate to be part of the Fortive family of companies, which means we are part of a large ecosystem that is working to solve security problems. Tektronix has the opportunity to participate in deep leadership dialogues between multiple companies within this ecosystem. Another force we can rely on to bring research and solutions to security issues is our partnership with the Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C), as it is a key force in supporting us in using technology to ensure the security of the future.

Looking ahead, which future trends in test and measurement do you think have the most potential? What impact will they have on various industries? How can professionals stay ahead of the curve in this rapidly evolving technology space?

I see some interesting future trends and technologies, including the use of 6G technology and the convergence of sensing and computing, which bring new opportunities to the test and measurement field. As the network evolves from a communication transmission network to a network of intelligent nodes, it brings new opportunities to the test and measurement field. The adoption of artificial intelligence-enabled technologies means that the testing and verification of devices must continue to evolve. Leading the future of the test industry and playing a role in bringing future technologies to the world is one of the most exciting parts of my job.

At Tektronix, we are always on the lookout for potential technologies that have the potential to change the landscape of the test and measurement industry. We constantly ask ourselves the question, “How can this particular technology solution be applied in the test and measurement space?” To answer this question, we focus on the problem we are trying to solve and perform early research to determine if the new technology is appropriate for our application space.

To stay ahead of potential trends and impactful technologies, we need to benchmark our test and measurement ecosystem against other industries. We need to be creative, curious, and forward-thinking, taking a long-term view of current solutions and building relationships with key players outside of the test and measurement space. Ultimately, it’s all about finding opportunities to collaborate to expand the knowledge base.