Dr. Jennie Hwang to Deliver Course on ‘Package/Board Integrity & Solder Joint Reliability’ at IMAPS 2021

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Dr. Jennie S. Hwang leverages decades of extensive real-world experiences and deep knowledge to deliver this  Course: “Package/Board Integrity & Solder Joint Reliability” in the virtual platform on October 11 at IMAPS 2021 International Symposium on Microelectronics.

Registration: Course C3 - https://imaps.org/symposium_program.php   

Course C3: “Package/Assembly Integrity & Solder Joint Reliability”

Introductory: 

With the goal to produce reliable products while achieving high yield production, this course provides a holistic overview of product reliability and of critical 'players' of the package/board level integrity and solder joint reliability, including the roles of materials, processes and testing/service conditions, as well as the crucial principles behind product reliability. Recent developments related to lead-free package and board assembly, lead-free solder materials, PCB laminates, and surface finishes in relation to manufacturability and reliability will be outlined.

The likely solder joint failure modes (interfacial, near-interfacial, bulk, inter-phase, intra-phase, voids-induced, surface-crack and others) will be illustrated. Solder joint reliability fundamentals including fatigue and creep damage mechanisms via ductile, brittle, ductile-brittle fracture, and the distinctions and commonalities between Pb-free and SnPb solder joints will be outlined. Parameters for a working life-prediction model, and high performance and high-reliability solder to withstand harsh environments will be highlighted.  A relative performance ranking among commercially viable solder systems, the scientific, engineering and manufacturing reasons behind the ranking, and newer solder alloy developments and their impact on product performance and reliability will be summarized. The course emphasizes on practical, working knowledge, yet balanced and substantiated by science. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own selected systems for deliberation.

Main Topics:

• Premises of reliability and product failure prevention;
• Product reliability - principles
• Product reliability - solder joint, PCB board, and package considerations;
• Solder joint thermo-mechanical behavior and degradation - fatigue and creep interaction;
• Solder joint failures modes - interfacial, near-interfacial, bulk, inter-phase, intra-phase, voids-induced, surface-crack, and others;
• Solder joint failure mechanisms - ductile, brittle, ductile-brittle transition fracture;
• Distinctions and commonalities between Pb-free and SnPb solder joints;
• Solder joint performance in harsh environments;
• Thermal cycling conditions - effects on test results and test results interpretation;
• Testing solder joint reliability - discriminating tests and discerning parameters;
• Life-prediction model vs. reliability;
• Summary - product reliability, principles, best practices.

About the Speaker:

Dr. Hwang, a pioneer and long-standing leader in lead-free electronics, brings her 35+ years SMT manufacturing experience coupled with her sustained 25+ years lead-free R&D and hands-on production implementation to the courses. She has been a major contributor to the implementation of Surface Mount manufacturing since its inception through hands-on production and as an advisor to OEMs, EMS and U.S. Dept. of Defense. She has provided solutions to many challenging problems, ranging from production yield to field failure diagnosis to most challenging reliability issues.  Her work covers both commercial and military applications.

Her long list of clients ranges from many Fortune 100 companies to private boutique manufacturers. Her recent assignment has led her client to achieve a higher than 99.9% production first-pass yield from below 50%. She has also solved the reportedly toughest reliability issues in high reliability products, as well as eliminated production defects for low-cost consumer products through process optimization and materials improvements.

Dr. Hwang’s SMT manufacturing experiences and problem-solving track record culminate in the publication of the very first book on the subject of ‘SMT Solder Paste – Technology and Application”, and the books entitled:  "Modern Solder Technology for Competitive Electronics Manufacturing" and "IC Ball Grid Array & Fine Pitch Peripheral Interconnections.” Her sustained leadership in lead-free R&D and hands-on production implementation are reflected in her authoring the groundbreaking books on the subject of lead-free technology and manufacturing, respectively, entitled: “Environment-Friendly Electronics—Lead Free Technology” and “Implementation of Lead-free electronics manufacturing”.

She holds patents and is the sole author of several internationally-used textbooks andd 600+ publications to her credit.  Her books, columns, and publications have been widely cited worldwide. Dr. Hwang has been a frequent keynote/featured speaker at worldwide events (United States Patent and Trademark Office, Federal Women’s Program, university commencement speech, numerous industry events). Over the years, she has lectured to hundreds of thousands of professionals and researchers in professional development courses.  As a columnist for the SMT magazine for the last 30+ years, she addresses the current issues, providing solutions and worldviews.     

Additionally, she has served on the Board of NYSE Fortune 500 companies and on various civic, government and university boards and committees, including U.S. Commerce Dept. - Export Council; U.S. Defense Dept. - Globalization Committee, Forecasting Future Disruptive Technologies Committee, U.S. Army Research Panel; NIST Panel and the Assessment Panel on U.S. Army Research Laboratory. She has served on the Board of Army Science and Technology, the National Materials and Manufacturing Board. She currently chairs the Army Research Laboratory Technical Assessment Board, the Assessment Board of Army Engineering Centers, and National Laboratory Assessment Board. She is a reviewer of various government programs and is prolific writer and speaker on the topics of trade, business, education and social agenda.

Among her many awards and honors are citations of recognition and achievement by the U.S. Congress, Honorary Doctoral degree, induction into WITI International Hall of Fame, named “R&D Star-to-Watch” (Industry Week); YWCA Women of Achievement Award; election to the National Academy of Engineering. She was featured as one of the ten luminaries in the inaugural volume: “Road to Scientific Success - Inspiring Life Stories of Prominent Researchers”, published by World Scientific Publications.

Her formal education includes four academic degrees (Ph.D. M.S., M.S., B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering, Physical Chemistry, Liquid Crystals Science, Chemistry, respectively), Harvard Business School Executive Program, and Columbia University Business School Corporate Governance program. She has held various senior executive positions with Lockheed Martin Corp., Hanson PLC (SCM Corp,) Sherwin Williams Co, and CEO of International Electronic Materials Corp. She is currently a principal of H-Technologies Group, providing business, technology and manufacturing solutions. She is also an invited distinguished adj. Professor of Engineering School of Case Western Reserve University, and serves on the University’s Board of Trustees.

She has established endowment funds at her alma maters, dedicating to interdisciplinary education and to acquiring global exposures. The Dr. Jennie S. Hwang YWCA award, now for 20 years running, is established in her honor, recognizing outstanding women students pursuing a STEM discipline. The Dr. Jennie S. Hwang Endeavors Fund was established at the National Academy of Engineering. This endowment funds programs at the NAE that support high school and college students to enhance exposure to diverse and/or international perspectives in engineering education, networking, and the profession.

Her books and publications are well received worldwide, which have been the widely adopted textbooks throughout the global industry over three decades.