Category Archives: Quality


Jan14
Explaining the Relationship Between BOM, AML, AVL, and MPN

BOMs, AML/AVL, and MPNs are essentially the “recipe” behind electronics manufacturing. All of these terms are closely related to a product’s material list. Understanding what they mean is not difficult—the real challenge is knowing how to apply them effectively to … Continue reading

Jan07
For Beginners: What Is a BOM? How BOM Works with ECO, ECN, and ECR in Electronics Manufacturing

For many people who are new to the electronics manufacturing and assembly industry, BOM and ECO are two very important terms—but also two of the most confusing ones. In this article, I’ll try to explain these concepts in a simple … Continue reading

Dec31
Understanding TAL (Time Above Liquidus) and Why It Matters in PCB Assembly

TAL (Time Above Liquidus) refers to the amount of time during the SMT reflow process when the solder material (such as solder paste) is above its liquidus temperature. You can think of it like ice melting into water and then … Continue reading

Nov26
Youtube: 5 Key Mindsets Before You Start Writing an 8D Report

Do you ever find yourself being less than honest when writing an 8D report to a customer? Or maybe in your company, the 8D report is more like a “one-man show”? What should we really pay attention to when writing … Continue reading

Oct08
What Can an SPI (Solder Paste Inspection) Machine Really Do?

SPI stands for Solder Paste Inspection. If we’re talking about the actual inspection equipment, people usually add “machine” after SPI. But in most cases, when you mention SPI in an SMT factory, everyone just assumes you’re talking about the inspection … Continue reading