Printed Circuit Board Assembly (PCBA) Quality Validation

Intertek offers top-tier quality validation services for Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) and Assemblies (PCBAs). These components are vital across a wide range of products from everyday consumer electronics to critical automotive, aerospace, military and medical devices. Ensuring their reliability and performance is paramount, which is why we adhere to core industry standards such as IPC-A-600 and IPC-A-610.

IPC-A-610 is particularly crucial for PCBA final product inspection. It covers various aspects of assembly quality, including component placement, soldering, cleaning, and marking. The IPC-A-610 standard is widely used by electronics manufacturers, assembly houses, and inspection organizations to ensure that electronic assemblies meet the quality standards required for their intended use. Learn more about IPC-A-610.

Automotive PCBAs: Rigorous Testing for Extreme Conditions

Automotive PCBAs must endure extreme environmental conditions. They interconnect sensors, microcontrollers, and power management devices within vehicles, necessitating robust design and construction. Our most common validation process includes:

• Cold/High-temperature resistance with and without humidity
• Moisture, water immersion, and water spray
• Thermal cycling resistance
• Chemical and corrosion resistance
• Vibration and shock resistance
• Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC)
• Solar radiation
• Visual and microscopic inspection
• X-ray inspection
• Cross-section inspection

These tests ensure that automotive PCBAs can withstand harsh conditions while maintaining functionality and safety as vehicle technology evolves towards electrification, autonomous driving, and increased connectivity.

High Standards for Medical and Military PCBAs

In the medical and military sectors, PCBAs are often held to even higher standards due to their life-threatening and mission-critical applications. Quality and performance are non-negotiable, requiring adherence to essential standards:

• IPC-A-600: Acceptability of Printed Boards
• IPC-A-610: Acceptability of Electronic Assemblies
• IPC-6012: Qualification and Performance Specification for Rigid Printed Boards
• IPC-6013: Qualification and Performance Specification for Flexible/Rigid-Flexible Printed Boards
• IPC-6018: Qualification and Performance Specification for High Frequency (Microwave) Printed Boards

Customized Standards and Comprehensive Inspections

We also validate PCBAs to customized standards for specific industries, such as GMW3172 and CS.00056, and CETP 00.00-E-412 for automotive OEMs, and MIL-PRF-31032 for military applications. For medical devices, we follow IEC 60601, ensuring the safety and performance of medical electrical equipment.

Supporting Industry Evolution

As industries rapidly evolve, driven by technological advancements and increasing demands for efficiency and safety, the role of high-quality PCBAs becomes ever more critical. Our services are designed to keep pace with these changes, providing the necessary validation to ensure that new technologies are implemented safely and effectively.