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Quality management in electronics

Electrical and electronic standards are vital in guiding industry best practices. If you are an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or provide boards and electronics to a critical industry such as aerospace, automotive, or medical devices, having an effective quality control process is required and mandated by regulations. Quality management standards enable you to ensure compliance and manage quality within your organization.

Ensuring quality and compliance

Explore how standards can help support quality management within your electronics organization

Quality management in the electrical and electronic sector
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Quality management in the electrical and electronic sector

Quality management standards should be applied to all aspects of electronics manufacturing. The fact that electronics are increasingly becoming indispensable for virtually all aspects of life only escalates the need for broad electrical and electronic standards to ensure their efficacy. When and why is quality management in electronics important? When developing an electronic product there is always consideration given to the operational lifecycle or the projected time period during which the product should function without fail, if used properly. This estimated term of operation is used as a basis for extending protection to end-users, typically in the form of a warranty. Delivering any products that fail during the warranty will result in lost revenue and restitution costs. Besides lost revenue and additional, unnecessary development time and costs, delivering substandard products may adversely affect the company's reputation, which can translate into reduced market share. The implications of this can be grave and affect an electronic organization’s continued viability. If you are an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or provide boards and electronics to a critical industry, such as aerospace, automotive, or medical devices, having an effective quality control process is required and mandated by standards and regulations. The reason for this is that board or device failure could have fatal results. Therefore, electronics quality management is important for all circuit boards and electronic device manufacturing. Quality management areas in electronics manufacturing There are three key areas where electronic quality management best practices should be implemented: Quality management standards in components The application of quality control standards to components begins during design with selection, and the accurate coordination of component packages with board layout footprints and the Bill of Materials (BOM). Also important is de-risking the procurement of components, which is most challenging during times of uncertainty, such as shortages. However, there is always the threat of counterfeit components winding up on your boards. Quality management standards in data For today’s automated manufacturing processes, accurate data that is readable and precise is essential for board fabrication and assembly equipment. It is also important that data be traceable throughout the entire development process. For critical industries, this is typically required. However, it is also necessary to perform risk analysis and track down errors. It is a good idea to follow the guidelines provided by BS EN ISO 9001 if no other regulatory requirements are in place for your specific project development. Quality management standards in processes The other key area where it is essential to apply quality control in the manufacturing process. In addition to following the quality management rules put forth in BS EN ISO 9001, there are specific requirements for circuit board manufacturing based upon performance classification as stipulated in IPC-6011 Generic Performance Specification for Printed Boards. To read more on how standards support electronic supply chains, click here. What is a BS EN ISO 9001 Quality management system standard? BS EN ISO 9001 is the internationally recognized Quality Management System (QMS) standard that can benefit any size electronic organization. Designed to be a powerful business improvement tool, BS EN ISO 9001 can help you to: Continually improve, streamline operations and reduce costs Win more business and compete in tenders  Satisfy more customers Be more resilient and build a sustainable business Show you have strong corporate governance Work effectively with stakeholders and your supply chain Implementing a BS EN ISO 9001 quality management system will help you to continually monitor and manage quality across your business so you can identify areas for improvement. Internationally, it is the quality system of choice. Add BS EN ISO 9001 to your collection today. Discover BSI Knowledge Over 100,000 internationally recognized standards are available for simple and flexible access with a BSI Knowledge subscription. Our tailored subscription service puts the control in your hands, with traceability to monitor and demonstrate your business's access to standards. Build your own custom collection of standards, or opt for access to our GBM04 Management, Law & Quality module and keep up-to-date with any relevant changes to your standards strategy. Request to learn more.Read more
Standards for supply chain confidence in the electronic sector
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Standards for supply chain confidence in the electronic sector

The electronics sector is worth over £16 billion every year to the UK economy alone. Key areas in this industry include consumer electronics, semiconductors, and electronic design, medical device electronics, automotive electronics, and defence-related electronics. And in an industry where bills of materials can be lengthy, effectively managing every stage of the supply chain and proving traceability is something that is a high priority. In high-performance safety-critical applications, such as avionics or defence electronics, quality standards are rigorous, and compromising these could destroy the reputation of a business. So, whether you are an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), a sub-contract manufacturer, or a distributor BSI has a range of standards that can help maintain quality and give you trust and confidence up and down your supply chain. Supply chain quality with electronic component testing In the electronics assembly sector quality, accuracy, and reliability are crucial to avoid costly reworks or products that fail shortly after purchase. This may be ensuring the integrity of BOMs (Bills of Materials) or preventing counterfeit components or conflict materials from entering the supply chain. To uphold quality, the IPC-A-610, “Acceptability of Electronic Assemblies” standard was published by the IPC and today it is a globally recognized quality standard in the electronics industry. To help the organizations they work in uphold their commitment to quality and it is often used to compliment quality assurance schemes such as BS EN ISO 9001. By achieving this standard, you can give your customers added confidence in your products. To read more on the topic of quality management in the electric and electronic sector, click here. How to achieve supply chain resilience in a post-COVID-19 landscape The global outbreak of COVID-19 was bound to put stress on the supply chains of electronic organizations, but the electronics supply chain was already in the throes of disruption before the outbreak. The tariff war between the United States and China forced the relocation of some high-profile electronics manufacturers from China to South East Asia, including GoPro, Kyocera, and Nintendo moving manufacturing to Vietnam, as well as Casio, Daikin, and Ricoh shifting operations to Thailand. The last year could have been a year of recovery for the electronics industry. Instead, it was filled with new challenges that threaten to significantly stem the flow of critical electronics and impact the introduction of new products for many months to come. Now, most electronic supply chain teams are working to mitigate and recover from these challenges, preparing for a post-pandemic new normal. The ability to quantify and mitigate supply chain risks throughout the procurement, manufacturing, transportation and sales lifecycle is paramount in the electronic sector. Organizations need to identify the critical risks to minimize disruption and help protect global operational, financial, and reputational exposures. The business continuity standard BS EN ISO 22301 specifies the requirements for a management system to protect against, reduce the likelihood of, and ensure your business recovers from disruptive incidents. The benefits to your business include: Identify and manage current and future threats to your business Take a proactive approach to minimize the impact of incidents Keep critical functions up and running during times of crises Minimize downtime during incidents and improve recovery time Demonstrate resilience to customers, suppliers, and tender requests It complements the implementation of the quality management standard BS EN ISO 9001, which helps your business’s supply chain become more resilient and build a sustainable business. Ensure your supply chain is resilient to future disruptions by adding standards BS EN ISO 9001 and BS EN ISO 22301 to your collection today. Discover BSI Knowledge Standards can help them gain this supply chain resilience. They are designed to help you establish good practice, embrace new technologies and be fit for the future. With a BSI Knowledge subscription, supply chain stability is at your fingertips with instant access to over 10,000 best practice documents related to the electronics industry. Request to learn more.

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