Every electronics product in your home, car or office has surpassed rigorous quality testing — or at least, it should have.

With more and more aspects of our personal and professional lives becoming dependent on integrated digital devices and wireless communication, unexpected downtime or malfunction can be disruptive and, at worst, disastrous. From the accuracy of medical instruments to the reliable function of electric cars, quality assurance and compliance are often life-or-death considerations.

As a global electronics manufacturing services (EMS) provider with a reputation for excellence, EC Electronics has been adhering to the most stringent guidelines for manufacturing quality for nearly four decades.

So, why is achieving quality approval so crucial for the future of electronics development, and how do we prove compliance to customers?

Making quality a priority

Every end-product is the sum of the entire manufacturing process, from initial conception to final IPC inspection. So, the manufacturing industry needs to take quality control seriously — especially as new products are introduced to the market.

Modern electronics are getting increasingly smaller, with experts predicting that the nanotechnology market will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 36.4% between 2021 and 2030. As a result, the margin for error is tightening. A minor mistake or oversight can lead to product redesigns, returns and customer complaints; in the fast-paced world of electronics, these are not easy compromises to make.

Quality control standards can impact product lifespans, with implications for sustainability and device warranties. Consequently, governments and authorities are enforcing a growing list of regulations for manufacturers to comply with — particularly within industries such as healthcare and automotive, where consistent and reliable electronics performance must be unwavering.

So, every manufacturer must meet and demonstrate the relevant standards of quality, such as those laid out by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The ISO’s quality management standards are internationally recognised and agreed upon by experts to help manufacturers work more efficiently and reduce product failures.

As product developers find uses for devices in more complex and dangerous applications, intrinsic safety is a prerequisite for high-quality electronics. Manufacturers can apply for certification in line with IECEx and ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU, which ensures all electronics equipment manufactured for potentially explosive atmospheres is tested per ATEX directive standards.

External bodies award these accreditations following a comprehensive assessment of quality governance, including risk and incident management, continual improvement, legal compliance, achievement of environmental objectives and data control. With the landscape of quality legislation evolving constantly, no EMS provider can afford to cut corners on these fundamental aspects of quality control.

Setting standards at EC Electronics

As a certified electronics manufacturer, EC Electronics can assure customers that every printed circuit board (PCB), cable assembly, conformal coating, component and box build has been through thorough control processes.

Our team of IPC-A-610 and IPC/WHMA-A-620 certified specialists, continual processes review and cross-disciplined new product introduction (NPI) team help to ensure a smooth transition from order receipt to delivery of a quality-assured product.

We have made quality our culture, setting high standards across our operations to ensure ongoing improvement for our quality assurance processes. As a result, we have been awarded several certifications that demonstrate our adherence to the ever-changing requirements of the electronics industry…

ISO 9001:2015

The ISO 9001 standard defines requirements for a quality management system (QMS).

This standard demonstrates our ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and applicable regulatory requirements. Plus, it validates that we enhance customer satisfaction through the practical application, improvement and conformity of our QMS and its processes.

ISO 14001:2015

ISO 14001 is a standard that guides environmental management teams and systems in enhancing environmental performance.

EC Electronics’ sustainability initiatives are supported by this certification — the framework that helps us identify and mitigate any risks to the planet due to our operations.

ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU

The ATEX standards are a set of EU regulations that ensure electronics are safe to use in explosive environments.

We recently gained certification for our products and services in line with this directive. ATEX ensures our electronics products are intrinsically safe (IS) for high-pressure, high-risk applications such as oil or gas sites, chemical processing plants or storage facilities.

Is your product development team looking for a trusted and qualified electronics manufacturer? EC Electronics is an industry-leading supplier of manufacturing services across Europe — contact us at +44 (0)1256 461894 or email sales@ecelectronics.com to speak to a specialist today.