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Tokai Rika’s journey toward adopting IPC standards for automotive electronic assemblies was long and complex, taking about a decade to complete. Traditionally, Japanese automotive electronics manufacturers relied on domestic or in-house standards, often differing from overseas suppliers. These differences created significant barriers in global procurement, making it harder to source parts from IPC-compliant overseas suppliers and creating cost inefficiencies due to duplicate testing and process requirements.
The turning point came around 2021, when Toyota formally adopted two core IPC standards—IPC-A-610, Acceptability of Electronic Assemblies, and IPC-J-STD-001, Requirements for Soldered Electrical and Electronic Assemblies—into its Toyota Technical Standards (TS). This move advanced IPC adoption in Japan’s automotive supply chain but also revealed a gap: Japanese companies were not participating in IPC’s standards committees, meaning that revisions and addenda were being decided primarily in the U.S., Europe, China, Southeast Asia, and India without Japanese input.
Tokai Rika’s Path to IPC Adoption and Remaining Challenges
For Tokai Rika, the adoption process was protracted due to the need to verify—through extensive, hands-on testing—that IPC-compliant products could match Japan’s stringent quality benchmarks. Japan’s unique standards, while ensuring exceptional reliability, often diverged from IPC specifications, creating friction in dealing with overseas suppliers.
Up to 70–80% of potential partners declined business opportunities outright, judging that meeting Japan’s demands was unprofitable. Those who engaged often aimed to learn Japanese production methods during early business, only to raise prices later, forcing Tokai Rika to re-source suppliers.
Continue reading this article in the Fall 2025 issue of Community Magazine.
