In most electronics assembly organizations, there is a function called IQC (Incoming Quality Control). The primary purpose of IQC is to screen incoming materials to ensure they meet drawing specifications, preventing defective parts from directly entering the production line. This helps avoid defective output and even potential line shutdowns.
In business transactions, both buyers and sellers usually agree on a product specification and acceptance criteria for the items being purchased. These criteria may include things like full functionality, dimensions within tolerance, intact packaging, and no defects in color or appearance. However, some acceptance criteria are hard—or even impossible—to quantify. Examples include sink marks on plastic parts, gloss or color tone after painting, or appearance issues that are judged mainly by visual feel. So how should these be defined?
Before products are put into inventory after final assembly, electronics manufacturing factories always perform quality inspections to ensure product quality. In terms of functional performance, most products go through 100% function testing, so pass/fail decisions are usually very clear—unless there are intermittent functional issues. In those cases, it’s still relatively easy to identify good versus bad units. Cosmetic (appearance) judgments, however, are a very different story. Disputes happen all the time. How does your company deal with these situations?
As electronics keep getting smaller and more advanced, the need to connect flexible printed circuits (FPCs) to rigid PCBs continues to grow. In this article, Workingbear will walk you through the most common methods used in the industry today—and share some practical insights from real-world experience.
Flexible printed circuits (FPCs) are widely used because they can bend and fold. They’re perfect for compact products or for connecting signals between different PCBAs. But there’s a downside. As usage increases—especially in applications with repeated motion—FPCs can develop open circuits or intermittent connections over time.
