Global PCB Connections: Rigid-flex and Flexible PCBs—The Backbone of Modern Electronics
Flexible Thinking: The Key to a Successful Flex Circuit Design Transfer
Happy’s Tech Talk #29: Bend-to-Install Semi-flex FR-4
Audits: A Critical Element of Process Control
September 3, 2024 | Randy Cherry, IPCEstimated reading time: 1 minute
A formal audit always seems difficult to justify. Companies do not want the expense, and employees do not want the hassle. There is always a chance of failure, and management struggles to understand the benefits. If you or your company has had issues with auditing, hopefully, this article will help you feel a little more comfortable about the auditing process.
First, let’s discuss the internal process audit, which can help you avoid or eliminate many costly manufacturing problems, reduce scrap, increase yields, and directly improve your bottom line.
Process auditing can be simple and easy to maintain if you create a repeatable, impartial auditing process. Start with a Process Verification or Surveillance process audit. Create a basic yes/no checklist that covers each key manufacturing process within your facility. Another idea is to design a checklist covering all manufacturing processes from receiving to shipping and everything in between.
The Process Verification or Surveillance process audit is designed to be high-level. Unlike with a formal audit, objective evidence is not required. You are simply looking for gaps in the manufacturing process against your own internal procedures, standards, and work instructions. If your company operates by industry standards, add those to your checklist. It is best practice to perform Process Verification or Surveillance process audits once per quarter. As you collect and analyze data from the checklist, you can determine the most beneficial internal audit frequency moving forward. Let data drive the decision on audit frequency. Do not base it on opinions.
Going All the Way
Once you have determined your internal manufacturing processes and have met your goals for the Process Verification or Surveillance process audits, you may opt for the next step, which is to have a third-party auditor from an outside company perform a full manufacturing process audit to industry standards and your internal procedures and work instructions. The focus must be on the manufacturing processes, not your quality standards. Most companies have ISO certifications already in place that cover most quality concerns.
To read the entire article, which was originally published in the August 2024 issue of PCB007 Magazine, click here.
Share on:
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
Driving Innovation: Mechanical and Optical Processes During Rigid-flex Production
10/28/2025 | Kurt Palmer -- Column: Driving InnovationRigid-flex printed circuit boards are a highly effective solution for placing complex circuitry in tight, three-dimensional spaces. They are now indispensable across a range of industries, from medical devices and aerospace to advanced consumer electronics, helping designers make the most efficient use of available space. However, their unique construction—combining rigid and flexible materials—presents a fundamental challenge for PCB manufacturers.
SMTAI 2025 Review: Reflecting on a Pragmatic and Forward-looking Industry
10/27/2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007Leaving the show floor on the final afternoon of SMTA International last week in Rosemont, Illinois, it was clear that the show remains a grounded, technically driven event that delivers a solid program, good networking, and an easy space to commune with industry colleagues and meet with customers.
The Marketing Minute: Marketing With Layers
10/15/2025 | Brittany Martin -- Column: The Marketing MinuteMarketing to a technical audience is like crafting a multilayer board: Each layer serves a purpose, from the surface story to the buried detail that keeps everything connected. At I-Connect007, we’ve learned that the best marketing campaigns aren’t built linearly; they’re layered. A campaign might start with a highly technical resource, such as an in-depth article, a white paper, or a podcast featuring an engineer delving into the details of a process. That’s the foundation, the substance that earns credibility.
Taking Control of PCB Verification One Step at a Time
10/09/2025 | Kirk Fabbri, Siemens EDAToday’s designs are as complex as ever, and engineers face tough decisions every day. Simulation and verification teams are confronted with a three-fold challenge: understanding the underlying theory, mastering the tools, and applying best practices.Engineers need to navigate a vast and ever-changing cast of design and simulation tools, often with overlapping functionality.
Happy’s Tech Talk #43: Engineering Statistics Training With Free Software
10/06/2025 | Happy Holden -- Column: Happy’s Tech TalkIn over 50 years as a PCB process engineer, the one skill I acquired in college that has been most beneficial is engineering statistics. Basic statistics was part of my engineering fundamentals classes, but I petitioned the dean to let me take the engineering statistics graduate course because I was creating a senior thesis for my honors focus and needed more training on Design of Experiments (DOE).