InsightsSystematically Implementing Technical Cleanliness in Accordance with VDA 19
dentify particle-related risks throughout the supply chain, assess them from a technical and economic perspective, and reduce them with a TecSa concept tailored to your processes – based on many years of project experience.
Technical Cleanliness throughout the supply chainUnderstanding Requirements and Guidelines
Technical cleanliness describes the controlled management of particulate contamination that may impair the function, quality or reliability of a component.
Technical cleanliness has played a central role in the automotive industry for many years. Requirements continue to increase due to the growth of electromobility, for example in battery management systems and inverters, as well as the use of camera systems for automated driving functions.
Particles can be introduced at numerous points within complex supply and production chains. To prevent particle-related failures, cleanliness requirements must therefore be considered throughout the entire value chain rather than only on the finished product.
Guidelines and standards such as VDA 19, ISO 16232, the ZVEI guideline “Technical Cleanliness in Electrical Engineering” and IEC TR 61191-7 provide an important foundation. They support both particle analysis and the systematic design of processes, workflows and responsibilities.
Technical cleanliness according to VDA 19Balancing Particle Reduction, Technical Feasibility and Cost
Producing components and surfaces that are completely free of particles and fibres is technically almost impossible and generally not economically viable.
The objective is therefore to reduce potentially harmful particles to a level at which they do not impair production processes or the function and reliability of the finished product.
Alternatively, existing particles can be assessed to determine whether they are critical for the specific application. On this basis, manufacturers and users can define a technically justified and economically viable cleanliness specification.
An effective TecSa strategy must therefore consider technical feasibility, particle-related risks and economic impact together. This requires a holistic and iterative approach that takes all relevant factors along the process chain into account.
The following diagram shows the key areas of influence and the main steps required to reduce particle-related risks within the production process.
Tecsa ManagementEmbedding Technical Cleanliness Within the Organisation
Effective TecSa management involves more than carrying out individual particle analyses. It combines technical requirements, processes, responsibilities and economic considerations within a coordinated overall concept.
All phases of the workflow must therefore be considered when establishing and implementing a TecSa management system. Responsible employees from the relevant departments should be involved at an early stage and receive targeted training on technical cleanliness requirements.
This ensures that technical cleanliness is not only inspected at the end of the production process, but is already considered during planning, procurement, production, packaging and further process design.
Technical Cleanliness service providerSupport for Your TecSa Concept
The systematic implementation of technical cleanliness requires experience in assessing particle-related risks as well as a sound understanding of technical, organisational and economic interdependencies.
As an independent technical cleanliness service provider, ZESTRON supports you with:
-
developing and implementing a TecSa concept tailored to your processes
-
interpreting technical requirements, norms and standards such as VDA 19
-
assessing relevant particle types, particle sources and potential effects
-
deriving suitable measures to reduce particle-related risks
-
considering both technical feasibility and economic viability
The objective is not to apply a generic standard concept, but to develop an approach that reflects your products, production processes, quality requirements and operational conditions
The following diagram illustrates the control loop for the systematic implementation of technical cleanliness – from analysis and risk assessment through implementation and continuous process optimisation.
Ensuring technical cleanliness requires more than determining the number of particles present. Other relevant factors include particle type, material, size, potential mobility, source and the possible effects on the component.
Only by considering these factors together can it be determined which particles are critical for the specific application and which measures are technically and economically appropriate.
The control loop helps to systematically identify potential causes, derive suitable measures, transfer them into the production process and subsequently verify their effectiveness.
Technical cleanlinessA TecSa Concept Tailored to Your Processes
Are you looking to implement technical cleanliness systematically within your production environment, assess existing requirements or reduce particle-related risks?
Drawing on our project experience and industry expertise, we support you in developing and implementing a TecSa concept tailored to your products, processes and quality requirements.
assistance moduleTechnical Cleanliness
Particulate contamination can impair the reliability of populated printed circuit boards.
The individually tailored assistance module supports you in assessing particle-related risks, identifying possible causes and deriving suitable measures for your specific application.
whitepaper-collectionFritting Voltage as a Tool for Defining Cleanliness Specifications
Increasing requirements for reliability and service life make technical cleanliness an important factor in electronics manufacturing.
The white paper explains how cleanliness specifications can be defined in a practical manner, how deviations can be assessed and how supplementary methods such as fritting-voltage analysis can support particle risk assessment.
