Failure Assistance and Risk Assessment for SMT Electronic Assemblies

When electronic assemblies fail, do not pass qualification tests or process risks need to be assessed before series release, ZESTRON supports you with technical evaluation. We analyze failure patterns, assess relevant influencing factors and derive concrete corrective actions for quality assurance, delivery capability and process assurance.

Failure Assistance     Risk Assessment

UNDERSTAND FAILURES AND DERIVE CORRECTIVE ACTIONS When SMT Electronic Assemblies Fail or Process Risks Become Visible

Field failures, customer complaints or failed qualification tests require a fast and traceable technical evaluation. At the same time, potential risks caused by residues, particles, humidity, material changes or process deviations must be identified at an early stage before they become critical in series production.

With experience from more than 800 failure cases, ZESTRON supports manufacturers of electronic assemblies in narrowing down causes, assessing technical risks and deriving suitable corrective actions.

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Icon for targeted failure support and root cause analysis in power electronics processes | © @ZESTRON

   Narrow Down Failure Causes

   Assess Influencing Factors

   Derive Corrective Actions

Schritt 1FAILURE ASSISTANCE FOR SMT ELECTRONIC ASSEMBLIES When Electrical Failures or Failed Qualification Tests Require Fast Decisions

Field returns, electrical failures or failed qualification tests on SMT electronic assemblies require a fast and traceable technical evaluation. ZESTRON supports you in narrowing down the actual failure causes of your electronic assemblies, assessing relevant influencing factors and deriving concrete corrective actions.

We do not only consider the electronic assembly itself, but also potential causes in the SMT process, the material system, the design or the supply chain. Especially in the context of automotive requirements, for example during the C-sample phase, a neutral technical evaluation can be decisive for reliably supporting customer requirements, supplier discussions and further next steps.

You receive a confidential evaluation of your failure case as well as concrete recommendations for short-term damage limitation and long-term technical assurance. The evaluation is carried out in accordance with high information security requirements based on ISO/IEC 27001 and TISAX®.

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from practiceReliable Support in Failure Cases

Corrosion, discoloration, dendrites or creepage paths are visible indicators of possible electrical or material-related failure mechanisms. The decisive factor is the technical evaluation within the specific design of the electronic assembly, so that the actual cause can be narrowed down and suitable corrective actions can be derived.

Corrosion and green discoloration on PCBA reducing functionality and causing failures | © @ZESTRON

Corrosion and (Green) Discoloration on Electronic Assemblies


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Dendritic growth on PCBA due to electrochemical migration causing short circuits. | © @ZESTRON

Dendrites, Creepage Distances, and Deposits on Electronic Assemblies – All Consequences of Electrochemical Migration?


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A car radio is shown. A person is turning the volume control.

Unnoticed Changes to Electronic Assemblies as the Cause of Series Failures


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Icon for targeted failure support and root cause analysis in power electronics processes | © @ZESTRON

   Identify Risk Sources

   Assess Impacts

   Derive Specifications

Schritt 2RISK ASSESSMENT FOR SMT ELECTRONIC ASSEMBLIES Assess Process and Cleanliness Risks on SMT Electronic Assemblies at an Early Stage

Not every risk on SMT electronic assemblies becomes visible immediately as a failure. Particles, residues, humidity, small distances, material changes or process deviations may only become critical under stress and can lead to qualification problems, insulation failures or field failures.

A particular focus is placed on Technical Cleanliness. Critical particles on assembled printed circuit boards are not only counted, but evaluated within the specific design of the electronic assembly: relevant factors include their position, size, material properties, electrical distances and potential effects on creepage paths or insulation behavior.

Our assessments are based on extensive practical experience and established standards such as VDA 19.2, IPC-TR-1771 and IEC 60664. This enables us to identify critical areas, evaluate possible failure mechanisms and provide reliable data for cleanliness specifications, drawing requirements and quality-relevant decisions.

The result is a traceable basis for product qualification, PPAP, SOP, customer audits and improved delivery reliability through early prevention. The evaluation is carried out in accordance with high information security requirements based on ISO/IEC 27001 and TISAX®.

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From practice Confidence Through Sound Risk Assessment

Experience from numerous projects shows what really matters when it comes to evaluating technical cleanliness, contamination levels, and process risks.

Anodic migration on PCBA – moisture-induced failure mechanism affecting reliability. | © @ZESTRON

Your Challenge: Defining the Right Pollution Degree


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Elektronikproduktionshalle

Ensuring Technical Cleanliness in the Production Process


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Metallic particle contamination on PCBA – risk of failure due to lack of technical cleanliness (VDA 19). | © @ZESTRON

VDA 19: Technical Cleanliness – The Key to Preventing Particle-Induced Failures


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Assistance-ModulesFrom Technical Evaluation to Reliable Decisions

Our Assistance Modules support you when failure cases, qualification problems or process risks require a reliable technical evaluation. ZESTRON assesses causes and influencing factors and derives concrete measures for failure assistance, risk minimization and process assurance.

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Facing Acute Challenges with Your SMT Assemblies? Have Your SMT Electronic Assembly Evaluated with Confidence

Whether you are facing a failure case, a qualification problem or a risk assessment, ZESTRON supports you with technical evaluation and the derivation of suitable next steps.

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