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June 2014 • SMT Magazine 79 Electronic Parts), which was developed by the G-19A Test Laboratory Standards Development Committee provides excellent insight into the degree of testing which should be performed on electronic components. When determining ap- propriate levels of testing, all of these standards should be referenced and the processes within implemented whenever possible. When searching for a test facility, it is im- portant to keep in mind that there are many test facilities that offer a wide variety of testing levels. Some facilities are very high-tech and very expensive. Others are less expensive and less qualified, and therefore do not offer the same level of assurance. Ultimately, the main concern is determining what meets the appro- priate level of quality for both your business's and your customers' requirements and quality flow downs. A good testing facility will have the ability and expertise to perform testing to these stan- dards. Key knowledge and abilities that testing facilities should have is also outlined in Annex 1 of ANAB Accreditation Rule 36, which includes items such as "knowledge of component design processes" and "knowledge of agency reporting requirements for fraudulent and/or counterfeit parts" [2] . Along with these capabilities, there is another major consideration that must be tak- en into account when choosing a test facility: transparency. When considering a test facility, these are some things that should be taken into account: • How did you find them? • Is their website completely stock photos? Does it truly represent the firm? • Is the picture of the business really their office? • Are the owners or management clearly identified? These are all indicators of the level of trans- parency that a testing firm exhibits. This is an important consideration because firms that are unwilling to provide information about them- selves are less likely to be forthcoming with information about the extent of testing and procedures used to determine the legitimacy of parts than transparent, up-front facilities. In order to gauge a test house's level of transparency, ability, and general legitimacy, firms who wish to have testing performed on their parts should ask for certain things prior to entrusting parts to the test facility. Key ques- tions to be asked include: • Who is ultimately testing the parts? • What are their qualifications? • What are the consequences of a potential part failure? In order to determine answers to these ques- tions, certain requests should be made of the test house, such as: • Sample comprehensive test report • List of the lab's capabilities • List of the lab's certifications • Proof of successful third-party audits from government or other recognized organizations Additionally, the consequences of a part fail- ure on the component's end application should be thoroughly considered. A circuit card that will be used in a microwave oven, for exam- ple, will require less stringent testing than one which is destined for the control systems of a military aircraft. When determining which test- ing procedures should be utilized for a batch of parts, this should be taken into account. In ad- dition to these considerations, the cost of test- ing oftentimes plays a part in choosing which test facility you will use. kraMer on CoMponenTS DeTeRMInIng TeSTIng ReQuIReMenTS continues