IPC standards electronics

Quality is critical in the aerospace industry where reliability is paramount. For many companies, ensuring quality standards in electronics are applied across the production process is a pre-requisite for work carried out by electronics manufacturing subcontractors and systems integrators. Standards cover soldering, assembly, cable and wire harness, and repair/rework of PCBs.

Over recent years, internationally accepted quality standards for electronic hardware production have become increasingly important as outsourcing by OEMs has increased, international trade has expanded and legislation such as the Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive has been imposed. This is why the IPC standards electronics have been adopted across the sector.
Whichever manufacturing sector a contract electronics manufacturer (CEM) is supplying into, maintaining quality standards is increasingly recognised as a key factor in customer satisfaction and a means of ensuring efficiency in manufacturing operations. In the competitive aerospace market, contracts may be won or not based on whether suppliers can meet exacting quality standards when manufacturing components and products for use in this highly specialised industry. As a result many CEMs and OEMs are looking to qualified training providers to ensure that staff are trained to apply quality-based processes and procedures such as those issued by IPC.
The IPC association was formed by major global industrial companies including Boeing, NASA, Hewlett Packard, Raytheon, BAE Systems and Nokia, all of which recognised the need to ensure that subcontractors’ quality is maintained at an appropriate worldwide level of standard classification. This standard is accepted by multinational OEMs, aerospace and defence contractors, as well as many smaller electronics production companies.

The IPC framework consists of four major aspects, which are standards, training, certification, and membership, and it is the thousands of hours of volunteer time contributed by various individuals throughout the industry that makes IPC strong.
IPC standards are created by industry volunteers through committee task groups which exist in the US, Nordic countries and China.
Since 1995, when IPC’s first training and certification programme was launched, many major equipment manufacturers have participated in formulating the standards as well as fulfilling them. In its 53 year history, IPC has published  standards for many steps of the printed circuit manufacturing and assembly process, building from a foundation of solid design up to final acceptance. Today, organisations of all sizes,
including those involved in supplying electronic-based products to the aerospace industry, benefit from implementing IPC standards through having trained, certified operators in key positions of the electronic production process, from design through to inspection.
IPC has two levels of staff development programmes, namely certified IPC application specialist (CIS) for staff such as quality line leaders, operational managers, assembly operators and design engineers; and certified trainer (CIT) for instructors empowered to train other staff to the CIS standard. The quality
processes for both the trainers and the application specialists are such that each must be recertified on a regular two-yearly basis so as to remain abreast of the many changes that can take place.
IPC offers globally recognised, industry-traceable training and certification programmes in the key areas of discrimination skills, i.e. see it, hear it, read it, write it and apply it and,through demonstration, in hands-on skills. Many of the specialist staff development programmes cover soldering, product assembly, cable and wire harness assembly, rework of electronics assemblies/repair and modification of printed boards, with IPC-A-600 for printed boards, IPC-A-610 for electronic assemblies and IPC/WHMA-A-620 for cable and wire assemblies, all reinforcing the discrimination skills; whilst two further workmanship programmes, the J-STD-001 for soldered assemblies and IPC-7711/7721 for rework and repair, provide other critical aspects of hands-on skills that need to be demonstrated.

Trade association for the printed circuit board assembly and subcontract electronics assembly industry

IPC — Association Connecting Electronics Industries is a global trade association for the printed circuit board and electronics assembly industries, offering programs and resources to board manufacturers and electronics assemblers, designers, industry suppliers, and original equipment manufacturers. The IPC association was formed by major global industrial companies including Boeing, NASA, Hewlett Packard, Raytheon, BAE Systems and Nokia, all of which recognised the need to ensure that subcontractors’ quality is maintained at an appropriate worldwide level of standard classification. This standard is accepted by multinational OEMs, aerospace and defence contractors, as well as many smaller electronics production companies. With 2,600 member companies worldwide, the association provides technical and management support to the industry through education, market research, standards, training DVDs, and electronic forums. IPC sponsors certification programs for acceptability of boards, cable/wire harnesses, and assemblies, rework and repair, board design and EMS program management. Our newest certification program is for RoHS Lead Free Electronics Assembly Process Capability.

IPC was founded in 1957 as the Institute for Printed Circuits. IPC develops
Standards for Design, performance and acceptability Standards for all types of interconnections, including printed wiring boards, electronics assemblies, flexible circuits, flat cable and discrete wiring devices.
Standards for materials used in above products.
Standards for the transfer of data between designers and manufacturers.
Standards for the board and assembly supply chain, including materials declaration and manufacturer and assembly qualification profiles.
Standards for the board and assembly supply chain, including materials declaration and manufacturer and assembly qualification profiles.
Standards for OEM critical components, such as air movement devices and power conversion.