EM Asia: What are some of the environmental benefits that Kyzen’s chemistries provide today compared to traditional chemistries offered when the company first started? Forsythe: Like most other things in the world, our technologies simply are more effective since our company’s inception in 1990. But that is not the important element; environmentalism is the significant part. Reducing operating concentrations reduces costs as well as the amount of chemistry that eventually must be dealt with in the waste stream. The same goes for operating temperatures, resulting in lower temperature releases to the atmosphere. We have always designed worker safety first, and that has not changed. The amazing part is that we have the safest, non-hazardous product offering that is dramatically more effective than our technologies were 20 years ago. We simply did not compromise on safety, and we never will. EM Asia: What sort of challenges do you face in managing global operations? Forsythe: The good news is our own industry has created the tools to make global management much easier. Kyzen is truly a wired company. The best news is that Kyzen has been able to attract and retain an outstanding worldwide team to support our customers: field technical support, local distributors and distributors, regional managers, R&D staff, manufacturing, customer service, and administration. The team is focused on listening to what our customers need and want, and works hard to act on those needs and meet them. Our world class team functions as one. This is essential because cleaning needs and environmental concerns differ throughout the world. By being there we can hear it firsthand, allowing us to listen and act on customer needs immediately. EM Asia: With locations in the US, Europe and Asia, what are some of the services that Kyzen’s Cleaning and Applications Labs provide? Forsythe: The labs provide a wide variety of services. They are strategically located where every Kyzen development program proves its worth, making sure that products perform as promised and meet the needs of our customers. Virtually every customer uses the labs at one point or another: some during process design, some during qualification, and others for process migration and upgrade. The labs also provide contract cleaning services, and are truly technology incubators for Kyzen and our customers. The best thing they provide is seasoned company staff, most with decades of experience in cleaning, all standing by to assist our customers. EM Asia: You are currently a member of the SMTA Global Board of Directors as well as Vice President of Communications. How do these associations strengthen the industry? Forsythe: Associations are the lifeblood of our industry: The SMTA, SEMI, IPC, SMART Group and IMAPS to name a few. At Kyzen, we believe that giving our time and talent to the associations makes our industry stronger and more successful, and that is good for everyone. The key to their benefit is the sharing of technology and technology solutions. They can be roadmaps to get the entire industry focused on a challenge, for example: standards to align the industry’s needs. Most often, the biggest benefit is simply passing the word on what techniques and scientific approaches work to solve our common challenges. That is why associations are successful and key to helping our industry continue to succeed. EM Asia: Kyzen is derived from the Japanese word for continuous improvement "kaizen”. What can we expect to see from the company in the near future? Forsythe: Absolutely. Kaizen by Kyzen is how we live each and every day. Several product improvement and development programs are underway. You might ask why when we have the best in breed across the applications spectrum. It is simple: the challenges continue to change. Solder technology houses both globally and locally are constantly inventing new materials, generally with little regard to cleaning. Customers always want to enhance the performance and economics of their operations. We have a saying at the company, "You can be the agent for change with your customer, or the [cleaning] agent that gets changed!” Our goal is to be that agent for change, improving our customers’ valueequation from Kyzen daily. | 
