Kitemark provides confidence for OEMs to outsource

Jaltek Systems reckons that any OEM keen to reap the technical and financial rewards of outsourcing its production to an EMS provider can entrust the company with its most valuable assets.

Jaltek Systems reckons that any OEM keen to reap the technical and financial rewards of outsourcing its production to an electronics manufacturing services (EMS) provider can entrust the company with its most valuable assets - product quality and brand reputation - safe in the knowledge that the company holds the BSI Kitemark covering IPC-A-610 Class 3 Acceptability of Electronic Assemblies.

Jaltek is keen to emphasise its Class 3 status which relates to high performance electronic products.

Referencing Class 3, IPC-A-610C Acceptability for Electronic Assemblies states it "includes the equipment and products where continued performance or performance-on-demand is critical".

"Equipment downtime cannot be tolerated and must function when required, such as in life support items or flight control systems".

"Assemblies in this class are suitable for applications where high levels of assurance are required, service is essential, or the end-use environment may be uncommonly harsh".

Increasingly, OEMs are recognising the benefits of concentrating their in-house skills and resources on product design and marketing, while simultaneously subcontracting their manufacturing requirements.

Reasons are many and varied, ranging from the massive capital expenditure required to process the latest electronics packaging technologies, to the rising tide of issues surrounding the WEEE legislation.

However, irrespective of the headline benefits, OEM purchasing departments know that choosing the right manufacturing partner is potentially the single most important sourcing decision the company will have to take.

Jaltek Systems' Sales Director, Steve Pittom, said: "With customers in industries such as civil aviation, automotive, telecomms, defence and IP development, process control has always been at the heart of Jaltek Systems' manufacturing services".

"With OEMs increasingly relying on manufacturing partners for their future production capacity, it is vital for customers to be able to differentiate between suppliers".

"With the BSI Kitemark covering IPC-A-610, customers can approach Jaltek Systems with total confidence that our manufacturing process control is world class".

Rob Hine, Product Manager for BSI Product Services, added: "The Kitemark scheme has been specifically developed to help purchasers easily assess a contract electronics manufacturer's level of competence".

"It also ensures that finished assemblies have been built to the requirements of IPC-A-610".

IPC-A-610 (Acceptability of Electronic Assemblies) is published by IPC, an established standards developing body and member of the IEC.

It is considered a de facto world standard and has been adopted by ANSI and the US Department of Defence as ANSI/IPC-A-610.

The Kitemark scheme has three key elements.

First, the quality plan assessment specifies the operations necessary to ensure the assembly process complies with the standard's requirements.

Secondly, product inspection involves regular on-site interrogation of selected assemblies to the requirements of the standard.

Finally, continuing assessment ensure ongoing implementation of the quality plan, thus ensuring compliance.

Rob Hine concluded: "The global electronics industry has voluntarily adopted this standard".

"It is now ubiquitous in purchasing documentation".

"In addition, voluntary Kitemark approval enables the assembler to demonstrate both compliance and capability to the customer, with the authority of a third-party's, ongoing, independent assessment".

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