Automotive Suppliers Must Manage Data for IMDS Compliance
July 13, 2017 | Derrik Snider, IMDS DATA LLCEstimated reading time: 1 minute

Suppliers of electronics parts and assemblies to the auto industry are finding IPC’s voluntary material data reporting system (IPC-1752A) insufficient for automotive customers. The auto industry has adopted the International Material Data System (IMDS), which has different reporting requirements than IPC.
IMDS and IPC-1752A are different tools for reporting materials data, created by separate industries for different purposes. Suppliers of electronic parts and assemblies that will be part of a car must register their materials data in the IMDS database and obtain an IMDS number that will be required on a PPAP. Lower-tier suppliers are required by many higher-tier customers to provide the material data that IMDS requires as a condition of PPAP approval.
If a PCB fabricator has comprehensive and complete data describing all material substances in an assembly (in IPC or an equivalent format), it can provide its automotive customer with sufficient data to comply with IMDS registration.
For example, Figure 1A shows a portion of a hypothetical IPC material composition declaration (MCD) for two items on a supplier’s BOM. Figure 1B illustrates how the same data on the two items would appear as part of an IMDS report. The arrows show how the IPC data would translate to the IMDS format. Because the IPC data in Figure 1a is sufficient for IMDS, entering the data in the IMDS system would be relatively straightforward. Note that in Figure 1b the components would have to be correctly placed on the IMDS Tree Level for the part, and that material substance weights would have to be converted to percentages, a tedious and time-consuming task for many components.
To read the full version of this article which appeared in the July 2017 issue of The PCB Magazine, click here.
Testimonial
"Advertising in PCB007 Magazine has been a great way to showcase our bare board testers to the right audience. The I-Connect007 team makes the process smooth and professional. We’re proud to be featured in such a trusted publication."
Klaus Koziol - atgSuggested Items
Powering Progress: Summer 2025 Community Magazine Now Available
07/22/2025 | Community MagazineIn the new Summer 2025 edition of Community Magazine, members of the Global Electronics Association demonstrate what progress really looks like—through innovation on the factory floor, influence on public policy, and investment in the next generation of engineers.
TRI to Exhibit at SMTA Queretaro Expo 2025
07/16/2025 | TRITest Research, Inc. (TRI), the leading provider of test and inspection systems for the electronics manufacturing industry, is pleased to announce plans to exhibit at the SMTA Querétaro Expo 2025, scheduled to take place on July 24, 2025, at the Querétaro Centro de Congresos y Teatro Metropolitano.
Global PCB Connections: Let the Spec Fit the Board, Not Just the Brand
07/17/2025 | Jerome Larez -- Column: Global PCB ConnectionsIf you’ve ever seen an excellent PCB quote delayed, or worse, go cold because of a single line on the fab print, you’re not alone. Often, that line reads something like, “Use 370HR only,” or “IT-180A required.” These and other brand-name materials are proven performers, but unless your design needs that specific resin system (say, for RF performance, thermal reliability, or stringent CAF resistance), you may inadvertently be holding your job hostage.
IPC Hall of Fame Spotlight Series: Highlighting Lionel Fullwood
07/15/2025 | Dan Feinberg, I-Connect007Many IPC members who have contributed significantly to IPC and our industry have been awarded the IPC Raymond E. Pritchard Hall of Fame (HOF) Award. Though many early HOF members have passed away and are unknown to today’s IPC membership, their contributions still resonate. This special series on IPC Hall of Fame members provides a reminder of who was honored and why. As a bonus, for those who are still around, we get to find out what these talented individuals are up to today.
TRI Unveils New Platform for Diverse Board Sizes
07/14/2025 | TRITest Research, Inc. (TRI), the leading test and inspection systems provider for the electronics manufacturing industry, proudly introduces a new size configuration for SPI and AOI Models.