Cover Story
Lead-Free Assembly Design for Manufacturability Considerations
The changeover to lead-free has brought with it serious implications for many key design rules. A look at the system-level management requirements and key DfM elements shown to improve overall yield, quality and reliability of high-complexity, high-reliability hardware.
by Matt Kelly and Mark Hoffmeyer, PH.D.
Factory Layout
‘U Turn’
How one EMS company slashed production time by half by switching from a straight line flow to a “U” shaped layout.
by Per Jennel
Quality Assurance
Availability Index and Minimized Reliability Costs
A model for quantifying how the total cost of improving and maintaining reliability can be minimized, and the relationship of that minimized cost to the availability index.
by Ephraim Suhir, Ph.D., and Laurent Bechou, PH.D.
ESD Basics
How Much Protection Is Enough?
Five questions to ask concerning ESD protection.
by The ESD Association
Caveat Lector
Rethinking responsibility.
Mike Buetow
Talking Heads
HDPUG’s Marshall Andrews.
Mike Buetow
ROI
The great equalizer.
Peter Bigelow
Focus on Business
Evaluating technology improvements.
Susan Mucha
Designer’s Notebook
Footprints' accuracy.
W. Scott Fillebrown
In Flex
Reducing flex assembly thickness.
Dale Wesselmann
Screen Printing
Material volumes.
Clive Ashmore
Selective Soldering
Double row headers.
Chris Denney
Tech Tips
Solvent approval.
Brian Ellis
Materials World
Learning to love QFNs.
Jie Bai
Technical Abstracts
In Case You Missed It.