A Conversation

In a previous column, we discussed the importance of the IECQ quality assessment systems for electronic components, a certification scheme of the International Electrotechnical Commission. The IECQ mission is to provide a business-to-business quality certification scheme that serves industry by creating real value in the supply and demand chain. The IECQ provides its members with the tools to supply added value to industry by helping it meet market needs.
IECQ accomplishes this by:

• Providing comprehensive, worldwide assessment and certification programs that assess organizations, electronic components, associated materials, and processes to defined IEC standards, IECQ-recognized specifications and quality requirements.
• Understanding the electronic components industry’s needs and establishing internationally recognized assessment criteria.
• Developing and administering training that supports the needs of electronic components industries and assessors.
  Working with companies, industry groups and governments, IECQ is providing leadership for industry by moving toward a global approach to hazardous substance process management so as to meet existing and emerging regulatory requirements.

This month, we discuss IECQ and QC 080000 IECQ HSPM with David W. Smith, chairman of the IECQ management committee. Smith, a citizen of Great Britain, is leading the members of the IECQ in achieving its mission.

Smith is now a consultant, retired from his position as director of component engineering for Nortel Networks in April 2002. In this role, he was responsible for Nortel Networks’ technical component processes and related standards and ran component engineering teams in the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Brazil. Prior to joining Northern Telecom in 1991, he held various general management, manufacturing, engineering and quality positions in the STC and ITT components businesses for 25 years, holding line responsibilities in the IC/semiconductor, hybrids, film circuits, quartz crystal, thermistor, resistor, relays, connectors, equipment practice and plastic molding divisions. He was also general manager of STC’s U.K. test laboratory and calibration business.

SBGi: Why is IECQ important to industry today?

Smith: IECQ is the only international scheme that offers certification—one certificate is accepted by all—in the field of electronic components. IECQ is also the only certification scheme to offer hazardous substance process management and electronic component management plan certifications serving the worldwide electronic component manufacturer and user industries.

SBGi: Why do you think QC 080000 is gaining so much attention now?

Smith: Worldwide, the preservation of our environment is a key issue. In Europe, China, the United States (California and other states) legislation has been enacted to ban the use of certain hazardous substances in products, in particular in electronic and electrical goods that would otherwise have a major damaging effect on the environment.

SBGi: How is QC 080000 unique among environmental specifications?

Smith: At present there is no international standard nor specification that addresses the requirements for hazardous substance process management other than IECQ’s specification QC 080000, therefore it has a unique position in the need to address the market demand for certification in this area.

SBGi: Most of the companies certified to QC 080000 are from Asia. Why is that?

Smith: The majority of high technology electronic components are manufactured in Asia-Pacific, hence the regional focus for IECQ QC 080000 certifications. However, companies have been certified to QC 080000 in Europe and North America where there is a growing interest.

SBGi: What do you see happening in the United States and Europe in the near future as regards QC 080000?

Smith: This is more debatable. Without a doubt the United States and European industries will focus more and more on hazardous substance management simply because of the regulatory focus in both regions on this topic. The potential for QC 080000 is significant and will grow, particularly in the electronic component manufacturing and user industries.

SBGi: Do you anticipate any challenges to worldwide adoption of QC 080000?

Smith: We do not see any significant challenges to the worldwide adoption of QC 080000. On the contrary, the formation and work of the new IEC TC111 that is developing international standards in this area further demonstrates the need and demand for an international approach.

SBGi: Does IECQ provide industry with specifications for testing and laboratories as well?

Smith: Most certainly, and certification also.

SBGi: What trends do you see in the world’s concerns about hazardous substances?

Smith: The constant focus on seeking overwhelming scientific proof of the growth and impact of global warming is mobilizing many nations, in particular Europe, certain U.S. states (e.g. California), and China and elsewhere, which will result in an ever increasing global market demand for confidence in hazardous-substance-free (HSF) electrical and electronic products, and consequently in HSF electronic and electrical components.

About The Author