Who should attend IPC A-600 training

This standard is aimed at anyone needing to assess PCB quality, such as:

• quality controllers;
• inspection supervisors and managers;
• goods inwards supervisors and managers; or
• anyone responsible for the quality and reliability of printed circuit boards.

IPC A-600 short course for Goods-inwards

This day and a half course covers just Modules 1 and 2.

• Module 1 – Introduction, Policies and Procedures
• Module 2 – Externally Observable Characteristics
• Printed board edges
• Base material surface and subsurface
• Solder coatings and holes
• Printed contacts and markings
• Solder mask, pattern definition and flatness
• ‘Externally observable’ conditions are those features or imperfections which can be seen and evaluated on or from the exterior surface of the board. In some cases, such as voids and blisters, the actual condition is an internal phenomenon and is detectable from the exterior.

IPC A-600 for trainers or staff

There are two levels of IPC A-600 training.

To have your team able to apply the standard you need the Application Specialist (CIS) level.
To take responsibility for your own training at least one of your team must gain the Certified IPC Trainer (CIT) level to train and certify other staff. Any company which has a large number of staff who will benefit from IPC A-600 knowledge and certification may find it more beneficial to have a CIT to train and maintain its own employees.

The Electronics Group has Master IPC Trainers delivering CIS and CIT certification across all five practical and classroom-based IPC programmes.

IPC A-600 Course Overview

IPC A-600 is designed to ensure that boards conform to laminate integrity, layer to layer spacing, annular ring requirements, etching characteristics, pattern definition and plating. The IPC PCB quality requirements apply to all boards of any construction, including rigid, semi-rigid and flexible printed boards, organic multichip module mounting, interconnecting structures and HDI layers.

Your team will have the knowledge and ability to spot:

• Surface imperfections;
• Subsurface imperfections;
• Imperfections in conductive circuitry;
• Hole characteristics; and
• Solder resist imperfections.

IPC A-600 covers three classes of quality assurance:

• Class 1

General electronic products – such as cameras, audio/video and domestic appliances. The lifetime of these products is limited, and a failure is not critical.

• Class 2

Dedicated service electronic products – such as printers, copiers, computers and general production equipment. The lifetime of the products is longer than class 1, the amount of usage is higher, and an uninterrupted service is desirable.

• Class 3

High reliability/critical products – such as military, aerospace and medical. Not only is the product lifetime extended but the products must function without interruption and downtime is not an acceptable option.