Why Your Business Can't Afford to Ignore Reliability Testing.

Using reliability testing equipment effectively often means testing to established industry standards to ensure consistency and comparability. For the electronics industry, standards from JEDEC (Joint Electron Device Engineering Council) are crucial, covering everything from temperature cycling (JESD22-A104) to highly accelerated stress testing (JESD22-A110). The IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) provides broad standards for environmental testing, such as the IEC 60068 series. For military and aerospace applications, MIL-STD-810 is the comprehensive standard for environmental engineering considerations and laboratory tests, covering a vast range of stresses. Automotive companies often use ISO standards, like ISO 16750, which details environmental testing for electrical and electronic equipment in road vehicles. WBE designs its reliability testing equipment to be fully capable of executing the test profiles required by these and many other international standards.

Accelerated life testing uses reliability testing equipment to speed up the aging process. One key type is accelerated temperature and humidity testing, often using a "85/85" test (85°C and 85% relative humidity) to accelerate failures in electronics caused by heat and moisture. Another is accelerated thermal cycling, performed in a rapid rate chamber, which stresses components through rapid expansion and contraction to find fatigue-related failures. Highly Accelerated Life Testing (HALT) is a more aggressive method where a product is stressed far beyond its operating limits until it fails, with the goal of quickly finding the weakest links in the design. Finally, accelerated vibration testing uses high-intensity vibration to simulate a lifetime of transport and operational stress in a matter of hours. WBE provides the equipment needed to perform all these critical accelerated tests.

The key difference between reliability testing and quality control (QC) lies in their focus and timeline. QC is typically a production-focused activity that asks, "Did we build the product correctly according to the specifications?" It's a snapshot in time, usually at the end of the manufacturing line. Reliability testing, on the other hand, is a design and engineering-focused activity that asks, "Did we design the product correctly to survive its expected lifetime?" It uses reliability testing equipment to project performance far into the future. For example, a QC test might check if a phone turns on, while a reliability test would put the phone in a chamber for 500 hours of heat and humidity to see if it still turns on, simulating years of use.

Customers are increasingly looking at the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of a product, not just its initial purchase price. Reliability testing equipment is a manufacturer's most powerful tool for reducing that TCO for their customers, which becomes a major competitive advantage. By performing rigorous testing, a manufacturer can produce a more durable product that has fewer field failures, requires less maintenance, and has a longer operational life. For the end customer, this means less downtime, lower repair costs, and a better overall experience. This reputation for durability and low TCO builds immense brand loyalty. The upfront investment in reliability testing equipment pays for itself by creating a premium product that customers are willing to pay for and stick with for the long term, ultimately leading to greater market share and profitability.