Quality Inspection Report for Electronic Components

Insights from White Horse Laboratories, July 2024

As the electronics industry continues to evolve at a rapid pace, staying ahead of component quality issues is more critical than ever. In our July 2024 Quality Report, White Horse Laboratories delves into the latest testing trends and insights, highlighting how industry shifts are shaping the demand for rigorous quality assurance. This month’s findings underscore the importance of adapting to new challenges in power management, embedded systems, and advanced semiconductor technologies.

Testing Volume and Focus

In July, our laboratory saw significant testing activity around regulators, FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays), and MCUs (Microcontrollers). The surge in regulator testing suggests a growing focus on power management, driven by the increasing application of energy-saving systems, electric vehicles, and portable electronics. The emphasis on FPGAs and MCUs reflects their vital role in programmable logic and embedded systems, which are key to advancements in industrial automation, telecommunications, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

Brand Dynamics

This month, Texas Instruments led the way among major manufacturers, accounting for 9.1% of the components we tested, followed by Analog Devices at 5.4% and Xilinx at 4.6%. This distribution highlights the continued reliance on components from these well-established semiconductor leaders. Texas Instruments’ strong presence in analog chips and embedded processing, Xilinx’s dominance in programmable logic devices, and the high demand for Analog Devices’ high-performance analog and mixed-signal semiconductors were all evident in our findings.

In a detailed analysis of the various component brands tested in our laboratory, some interesting trends emerged. Texas Instruments was the top manufacturer for regulators, diodes, and amplifiers; Infineon led in IGBT and flash memory products; Murata was the primary contributor of inductors; and Yageo, a lesser-known brand in our reports, dominated in capacitors and resistors. ST Microelectronics emerged as the leading brand for MOSFETs, further diversifying the landscape of major players in the industry.

Testing Methodologies and Results

In July, White Horse Laboratories maintained a balanced and thorough approach to component testing, employing a wide range of methodologies to ensure quality and reliability. The majority of our efforts focused on External Visual Inspections (EVI), Solderability Tests, Functionality Tests, and X-ray Analysis, with each method playing a crucial role in identifying defects and ensuring components meet industry standards.

We observed a slight increase in “unacceptable” test results, rising to 9.7% from June’s 8.3%, indicating a growing number of issues that require attention. Meanwhile, “acceptable” results held steady at 76.6% (up slightly from 76% in June). Additionally, 13.7% of the tests were recommended for further analysis due to the complexity and critical nature of the components involved.

White Horse Laboratories remains committed to navigating the complexities of emerging technologies while maintaining the highest standards of testing. As the industry faces new challenges, our rigorous testing processes ensure that we continue to deliver reliable results that you can trust.

We encourage you to explore how our comprehensive testing solutions can support your quality assurance strategies and help you stay ahead in a rapidly changing market. As always, we value your feedback and look forward to sharing more insights with you next month. Stay connected with us for the latest developments in quality assurance and electronics testing.