IPC International Community magazine an association member publication
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C O M M U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E 7 9 S U M M E R 2 0 2 5 on product reliability and consistency, helping enter- prises assess their performance in quality manage- ment, process improvement, and best practices. This validation marks a significant milestone for Magna in automotive electronics quality management and reflects the Global Electronics Association's commit- ment to promoting industry-wide standardization and systematic development. Behind the First Automotive QML: A Deep Evaluation of 'System Strength' Conducted by Global Electronics Association auditors onsite at Magna's Zhangjiagang facility, the valida- tion covered a wide range of areas, including staff training, production processes, and process quality control. It also addressed the specific requirements of automotive electronics, focusing on how manu- facturers ensure the long-term reliability of soldered assemblies under harsh conditions such as high tem- peratures, vibration, and humidity in a high-volume automated production environment. The validation involved critical process parameters such as solder coverage integrity, void control, and X-ray inspection analysis, providing a comprehensive assessment of Magna's ability to produce high-reliability automotive electrical and electronic components. "We are honored to be the first manufacturer in the world to pass the Automotive QML validation," says Mingye Zhou, general manager, Magna Electronics (Zhangjiagang). "The Global Electronics Association's experts not only recognized the strength of our exist- ing systems but also provided practical suggestions on process consistency, technical details, and preven- tive mechanisms, which will greatly support our Lean manufacturing and process optimization efforts. This certificate is a powerful validation of Magna's global quality strategy and boosts our confidence in contin- uous improvement and excellence. We look forward to deepening our cooperation with the Global Elec- tronics Association to advance the implementation of automotive electronics quality standards." Driving Forces Behind the Success: IPC China Automotive Electronics Committee Ignites the Pilot Project The successful issuance of the world's first certifi- B I T S & B Y T E S cate would not have been possible without the early advocacy of the IPC China Automotive Electronics Committee (IPC CAEC). As early as the end of 2023, IPC CAEC identified the urgent need for a high-reli- ability quality system in automotive electronics and proactively proposed launching the pilot QML project in China to the Global Electronics Association's global standards and validation department. It also recom- mended that representative enterprises participate. After several rounds of expert evaluations, Magna Zhangjiagang was selected for its strong foundation in manufacturing quality, system capability, and inno- vation. IPC CAEC played a vital role in project plan- ning and execution, coordinating interpretation of IPC standards, expert training, and validation process optimization, laying a solid foundation for the suc- cessful implementation. From Standard to Practice: Empowering Industry Upgrades with a Validation Services QML The Validation Services Automotive QML is a quality management assessment system designed by the Global Electronics Association in recent years to meet the growing demand for high-reliability automotive electronics. Based on the IPC-J-STD-001 and IPC- A-610 standards, it integrates automotive-specific requirements and responds directly to OEM and sup- plier priorities such as zero-defect goals, consistency control, and full-process traceability. The validation not only assesses compliance with