BUCKS, UK – Some 70% of all end-of-line defects are associated within the printing process, according to a recent study conducted by the SMART Group.
 
The results came from a poll of SMART Group members as a lead-in to its “The Road to ZERO Defects” workshop. Attendees were taken through 42 recommended audit steps for pre-placement during the workshop, the first in a back-to-basics series to celebrate the group’s 25th anniversary.
 
Presentations covered solder paste, process contamination, printing platforms, stencil specifications, solder paste inspection SPI/SPC, and stencil cleaning and housekeeping.
 
The series includes sessions on reflow soldering; materials; wave and selective soldering, flux selection; and hand assembly and rework.