Introduction
Nearly everything electronic in the universe depends on the printed wiring board (PWB). From the simplest toys to the most intelligent computers, all are useless if the PWB's inside of them are not functional. That means printed board quality is the responsibility of thousands of people both inside and outside manufacturing.
For many years, the IPC-A-600 Acceptability of Printed boards document has set the standard for PCB / PWB workmanship quality. The IPC-A-600 gives comprehensive acceptance criteria with full color illustrations and photographs showing all types of printed board surface and internal conditions. Because of its importance to both the PWB manufacturer and assembler, the IPC-A-600 has become one of the most widely recognized and used documents ever published by IPC.
Now, an industry-consensus training and certificate program based on the IPC-A-600 is available to your company. The IPC-A-600 Training and Certification Program helps all segments of the electronic interconnection industry improve their understanding of printed board quality issues, greatly enhances communication between PWB manufactures, their suppliers and their customers, and most importantly: provides a valuable credential to industry professionals and recognition for their companies.
How the IPC-A-600 Training and Certification Program Works:
The program follows a train-the-trainer model. Companies involved in fabrication, assembly or original equipment manufactures (OEMs) enroll a representative in a twenty-hour training course at any IPC-A-600 Approved Certification Center. The training provides a detailed review of the IPC-A-600 criteria and concludes with a qualifying examination. Passing the exam means that "IPC-A-600 Certified Instructor/Inspectors" receive instructional materials to use in "Worker Proficiency" training. The operator-level Worker Proficiency course is "modularized", meaning that an Instructor/Inspector may teach the area(s) of the IPC-A-600 that are most relevant to the employees' responsibilities.
Who needs training on the IPC-A-600?
Printed Board Manufactures - Knowledge of acceptance criteria is essential in identifying and tracing nonconforming conditions to their origins in the manufacturing process. The IPC-A-600 Training and Certification Program establishes the important relationship between the IPC-A-600 and the IPC-6012, Qualification and Performance Specifications for Rigid Printed Boards. Adoption of this program also makes a powerful statement to buyers and users of printed boards that a company is serious about quality and continuously improving workforce competency. Industry-recognized, technically accurate and specific training for anyone involved in PWB fabrication did not exist until now.
Electronics Assembly Companies - No one wants to put dozens of expensive integrated components on a non-functioning PWB. IPC-A-600 Training and Certification gives the assembler the skills and information to do a better job at incoming inspection. Knowing acceptable conditions means that the boards are not needlessly scrapped based on purely cosmetic reasons; knowing nonconforming conditions saves the assembler from an extensive and time-consuming component mounting operation. Certified Instructor/Inspectors working in electronics assembly can forge a more productive relationship with their PWB suppliers.
OEMs and Material/Equipment Suppliers - Anyone involved in purchasing or specifying printed boards needs to understand the criteria of the IPC-A-600. OEMs, like assemblers, perform incoming board inspection and have a huge investment in PWB reliability. Those involved in product design will learn the baseline requirements for board quality for all Classes of Product. Material and equipment suppliers along with OEMs can use the program to strengthen their relationship with board manufactures, even providing Worker Proficiency training as a service.
IPC developed the IPC-A-600 Training and Certification Program to promote a consistent body of knowledge regarding printed board end product requirements to all segments of the electronic interconnection industry. Anyone directly involved in PWB fabrication, quality assurance, training or inspection is an excellent candidate for the IPC-A-600 Instructor/Inspector training and certification.
The Benefits of Certification:
IPC-A-600 Certified Instructor/Inspectors and their companies receive valuable recognition by participating in this program. They also receive IPC-published instructional materials including:
- Over 250 full-color, 35mm slides illustrating every aspect of the IPC-A-600 document.
- An instructors guide that gives detailed information on how to teach every module of the Worker Proficiency training course.
- A printed board sample showing critical external characteristics, such as conductor width and spacing, annular ring and solder resist registration.
- The IPC-A-600 Acceptability of Printed Boards and the IPC-6012 Qualification and Performance Specification for Rigid Printed Boards.
- Open and Closed Book Examinations for IPC-A-600 Worker Proficiency training.
- A version of the students handbook used in the Worker Proficiency training course.
Worker Proficiency training material, including student handbooks and course certificates, may be purchased from IPC only by Certified Instructors / Inspectors, who are free to teach the training course at any location and set their own fee. The term of an IPC-A-600 Certified Instructor/Inspector is two years. Re-Certification training will be available at the Approved Certification Centers.
"The bottom line in training is the bottom line. The better we educate our employees, the better the quality of product we will make. The IPC-A-600 Training and Certification Program will assist us in cross-training and broadening the knowledge of our workforce, while boosting employees' confidence and self-esteem." - Brenda Horberg, Human Resource Director, Beaver Brook Circuits
Topics to be Covered in the Instructor / Inspector Training Course:
- Printed board product classifications and acceptance criteria.
- Base material surface and subsurface conditions, such as measling / crazing.
- Solder resist coverage over conductors and registration to lands.
- Conductor width and spacing and annular ring requirements.
- Dielectric material criteria for etchback, voids and resin recession.
- Plated-through hole requirements for copper plating thickness, voids, nodules and cracks.
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