Electronics components testing must occur before and after manufacturing, and producers should never treat that step as an afterthought. Here are some of the practical advantages that a thorough testing strategy can bring.
Uncover possible instances of counterfeiting
Since electronics components are in such high demand, there’s an elevated risk that procurement specialists could unknowingly obtain counterfeit parts. Testing does not eliminate those possibilities, but it could reduce them depending on the scope of the examinations.
Increased supply chain security is one of the reasons why there’s a push to bring semiconductor production back to the United States. The thought is that when those critical components must travel long distances, it’s harder to verify they’re free from security flaws.
Hardware security company Chiplytics has proprietary technology to screen semiconductors before they go into critical systems. Its tool combines machine vision with power-spectrum analysis.
The tool also gradually builds a database to screen for other abnormalities, such as cloned or damaged chips. It’s a non-invasive, data-driven and automated option that helps electronics testing stay consistent.
The internet has also substantially ramped up consumers’ likelihood of unwittingly buying counterfeit electronics from unscrupulous e-commerce sellers. Operation In Our Sites is an annual, Europol-coordinated effort to find and remove sites specializing in counterfeit or pirated goods. The 2022 campaign involved 27 nations and enabled the takedown of 12,526 websites offering 127,365 products. The items ranged from phone cases and electronics to perfumes and watches.
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Ensure products or features perform as expected
The intensive testing of electronics components can verify that the features they support work as intended in a particular product. Otherwise, users are often the parties that uncover problems and eventually complain about them.
Pre-manufacturing testing can uncover unintended consequences of proposed designs, such as issues that negatively impact the user experience. Consider a smart-home product with a touchscreen panel that performs less effectively if a person has large or slightly moist fingers. Such an issue would cause preventable frustration and potentially cause people to decide they won’t buy from a brand again.
However, it’s increasingly easy to test products without cutting corners. Sometimes, people can even do so without physical proximity to the items. As an example, Samsung Research has a testing partner to check the functionality of many consumer products, including those with touchscreen functionality. The provider allows clients to remotely write and run tests on touchscreens and other components, including chipsets.
Testing an entire product is particularly important when it must withstand harsh environmental conditions. For example, electronics on board the James Webb Space Telescope were rigorously tested prior to launch to make sure components functioned properly in space.
Using a robust and all-encompassing electronics testing strategy is one of the best ways to uncover problems before products reach the market. Regardless of whether that happens before or after manufacturing begins, such assessments are vital to a company’s quality-control measures.
The checks also give company leaders valuable time to make changes after learning about problems. That advantage reduces the chances that people discover issues too late and disrupt production timelines.
Reduce recall risks
Electronics testing could be what prevents a significant recall for a well-known brand. Faulty products can pose significant dangers to consumers. It also can take an unsettling amount of time for manufacturers and regulators to recognize issues.
For example, in October 2022, Kia America issued a recall notice for specific 2008–2009 Kia Sportage models. The issue was the hydraulic electronic control unit, which could catch on fire while driving or parked. The messaging urged people to park their vehicles away from structures until they could get them repaired.
Sometimes, there are multiple risks with a single recalled product. An example comes from a December 2022 recall of JBR Solutions’ Aduro surge protectors. The notice stated incorrect polarization and poorly soldered connections posed shock and fire threats. Fortunately, the company had not received any injury or fire-related reports when it published the recall.
However, even if a recalled product does not directly harm a consumer, it could forever tarnish their opinion of the company. They may believe the business cares more about its profits than safety and products do not undergo sufficient electronics testing to find and prevent potentially dangerous issues.
Data from SGS — a company that handles testing, certification and inspection — also showed a significant rise in recalled products during the fourth quarter of 2021 compared with the previous quarter. More specifically, the information indicated a 44% increase within the European Union for audio and video products and household appliances.
Electronics testing supports company resilience
Electronics testing provides vital information, whether it occurs before or after manufacturing starts. Insufficient assessments prior to manufacturing could lead to problems that slow down or even stop production. Then, if manufacturers don’t do enough testing on final products, those companies might release products with serious faults.
Developing thorough, effective and practical testing strategies is one way a company can protect its brand in the marketplace. Prioritizing testing can also help the bottom line by preventing costly catastrophes.
About the author
Emily Newton is a technical writer and the editor-in-chief of Revolutionized. She enjoys researching and writing about how technology is changing the industrial sector.
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