A Quick Look at IPC Standards

Why does a precision industry need standards?  Do standards add value to the electronics industry or are they merely a cosmetic feature on a firm’s marketing copy?

Today, customers and clients around the world demand higher quality, lower turnaround and the assurance that the companies they partner with are safe, sustainable and profitable in the long term. It is this profitability that makes compliance to global standards not merely cosmetic, but essential in the expanding landscape of the electronics industry.

The IPC stands at the forefront of innovation and best practices in the electronics industry. The Institute of Printed Circuits is today the Association Connecting Electronics Industries owns several community-driven standards that establish best practices and compliance parameters for over 3000 member companies around the world today. The IPC-A-610 Acceptability of Electronics Assemblies Training and Certification Program is one of the most popular standards that companies aspire to.

Why is this certification so important?

Consider the manifold increase in consumer electronics today. The global market has seen an explosion in this segment that is only matched by the industrial electronics market. Consumers are becoming more vocal, connected and focused in their requirements and poor quality affects a manufacturer’s profit much quicker and far more drastically than it did even a decade ago. The choice is very clear: excellence or decline.

The IPC-A-610 is a customer-focused standard that is designed to set acceptability standards for the manufacturers of electronic printed circuit boards. This covers general electronic products, dedicated service electronics and high-performance products, specifically printed circuit boards. The standard is accepted widely, being adopted across Asia and Europe as well, but it is not the wide acceptance alone that speaks of its importance.

The IPC-A-610 standard is not merely a set of instructions for engineers and technicians to follow blindly. It is a set of end product acceptance criteria – this means that it requires more than just compliance. It displays the acceptance criteria for several standards and specifications. It requires a manufacturer to understand his or her assembly line, how it works and what steps will improve its efficiency and make the end product acceptable to not just an internal quality control, but to the end customer.

If the IPC-A-610 is acceptance criteria, the IPC J-STD-001 is a set of requirements that details the use of materials, design and process in the manufacture and soldering of PCBs. The J-STD-001 works with other modules of manufacturing printed circuit boards.

The IPC/WHMA-A-620 is another standard that details the requirements and acceptance criteria for Cable and Wire Harness Assemblies. The standard, like the IPC-A-610 focuses on improving the overall quality and reliability of electronic components, specifically cable assemblies. IPC certifications work with existing standards such as ISO 9001 to ensure a better managed, efficient and cost-effective operations.

In an industry that grows increasingly complex and requirements more demanding, the IPC Certifications help manufacturers grow profitable, leaner and more efficient and accurate in their operations. It helps the heads of industry, employees and quality inspectors make products that meet a customer’s standards.

The question to be answered today is not ‘Why do we need standards?’ but ‘Why doesn’t every EMS adopt standards as quickly as possible?’

At MJS Designs, standards matter. Visit us at www.mjsdesigns.com to live chat to discuss your project.