The research, which is based on a survey conducted by Dimensional Research, was based on 306 participants that use test equipment for ensuring electronic device quality and testing.
It sought to understand the current challenges for achieving electronic hardware manufacturing quality, and found that it is getting significantly harder to accomplish. Nearly every company surveyed has experienced a quality problem.
According to the survey, 64% of respondents confirmed that ensuring product quality is growing more difficult due to the increased complexity of electronics, and the corresponding complexities of testing required to measure quality.
Respondents reported that quality challenges originated from growing customer demands and tighter tolerances to increasing manufacturing complexity and pace. However, the research found that nearly 9 out of 10 companies believe the risk of poor quality can be contained with proper testing equipment.
While extreme product quality issues can make headlines, 92% of survey respondents said that they suffer significant business impact from error-prone test equipment. Survey respondents reported that quality issues frequently impact the bottom line, citing increased costs to repair or dispose of defective products and lost business, potential lawsuits and regulatory penalties, as well as lost time-to-market or market advantages, damaged customer relationships and a tarnished brand.
Looking further into quality issues, survey respondents reported that testing equipment that is out of calibration has caused product rejection, recalls, loss and returns. Further, 49% of companies surveyed said that they lose $100,000 or more for every 1% of yield lost.
“The survey demonstrates that electronic hardware manufacturers are faced with numerous challenges to ensure quality and that achieving that quality is difficult due to the complexities of today’s electronic products,” said John Page, president, Keysight Global Services. “Respondents report that product quality issues can directly impact the bottom line by increasing costs, stalling market momentum and disappointing customers.”
To download a complimentary copy of the Keysight report, visit: https://about.keysight.com/en/newsroom/pr/2019/22may-nr19071-report.pdf.
