Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1473479
88 PCB007 MAGAZINE I JULY 2022 tions, e.g., inadequate board edge or drill hole clearance. Damaged components are oen the result of solder bridging from sol- der joints being too close together. Look out for additional PCB layout errors like oxidized copper from missing a solder mask or bowing due to copper imbalance. • Make sure that the flexibility of your boards fits their function. Properly sup- port your flex boards with stiffeners or fix- tures to meet their structural requirements and ensure durability. All that said, these practices are only one part of the puzzle. Using Technology to Improve Accuracy Holistically addressing manufacturing speed and accuracy is essential to processing a job at very high yields. Using statistical process con- trol (SPC) soware, manufacturers can mon- itor efficiency and pinpoint errors to ensure greater accuracy. Automated engineering fur- thers consistent precision while also increasing production. is leaves time for highly skilled manufacturers and operators to focus on high- level tasks that utilize their expertise as well as real-time quality control, all of which contrib- utes to competitively high yield production. Focusing on Quality and Safety A commitment to quality at every level of organization translates to quality products and is central to successful yield increases. A qual- ity product cannot be sustained without valu- ing the product's safety from prototype to cus- tomer application. Safety supports quality, and quality ensures safety. At the risk of sounding obvious, use of high- quality materials ensures a high-quality prod- uct and increases yield. Avoid the temptation presented by lower cost materials or design shortcuts as these can produce costly errors. In addition to defective boards, errors can cause worker injuries and reduce your labor force lowering both product quality and yield.