SGS Reminds Electronic Product Manufacturers of the Importance of Designing the Right Inspection Protocol
Changing market requirements mean inspection protocols for manual tests that were previously suitable, are now obsolete. SGS has a range of services to help manufacturers create inspection protocols that meet current market demands.
- (1888PressRelease) October 19, 2018 - SGS understands the importance of designing the right inspection protocols for electronic product manual tests. It offers a range of services to help manufacturers develop and market safe and compliant products that meet the demands of their target markets.
With markets and manufacturers demanding shorter turnaround times (TAT) for the development and introduction of new electrical and electronic (EE) products, some developers are relying on previous experience when designing their inspection protocols for manual tests. This has an inherent risk; since the inspection/test protocol may not be synchronized with current market conditions.
The dynamism of markets, especially for EE, means that what may be applicable during the development timeframe of one product, may be irrelevant by the time the next product is developed. If the manufacturer uses previous experience, they risk using out-of-date inspection and testing protocols on their latest products.
To ameliorate this situation, testing and inspection protocols should be designed using objective methodologies based upon the consumer’s expected behaviour. For example, how the product is commonly handled and used by current consumers, which may be very different from a previous generation. This approach allows a manufacturer to determine a testing and inspection process that objectively represents the current expectations of the consumer.
Common objective methodologies utilized to support the development of inspection/testing protocols are:
1. Behavioral studies of consumer habits
2. Market research of subject matters
To understand this approach better, it is sensible to look at an example – the remote control. Tests of the reliability of a remote control commonly involve the bare unit drop test as part of the inspection protocol. Market research will help the protocol designer determine the height of the bare unit drop test to be used, thereby ensuring it is relevant to the current average adult’s height. Behavioral studies also show children may use the remote whilst in their parent’s arms and this will mean an increase in the number of potential drops, and the height from which it is dropped.
In addition, rounded remote controls have been shown in studies to be more liable to fall off a table than flat-bottomed remotes. This therefore needs to be factored into the inspection protocol, along with the average height of tables available on the market. The average height of tables can be gleaned from market research.
It has also been seen in consumer behaviorial studies that different forms of remote may require different tests. For example, if we look at a TV remote versus a sport’s game remote control, it would be considered an abuse test to throw a TV remote control two meters away onto the floor but a normal usage reliability test for the sports game remote control. The test standard and procedures for both are similar, but the criteria determining whether they pass or fail will be very different in QAQC practice.
SGS has global capabilities to help manufacturers deliver safe and compliant EE products to their target markets. To learn more about how SGS can assist with the design of manual testing inspection protocols, please visit SGS Electrical and Electronics: (www.sgs.com/ee)
For more information, please contact:
Kent Wang
Integrated Quality Solutions Manager
Tel: 770 570 1807
Email: crs.media ( @ ) sgs dot com
Website: www.sgs.com/ee
About SGS
SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 95,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 2,400 offices and laboratories around the world.
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