INTRODUCTION

‘‘QUALITY’’ is a term used in such a variety of contexts and applications, that it is not a simple matter to define.

• For some it means THE VERY BEST PRODUCT POSSIBLE.

• For others it means A PRODUCT QUALIFIES FOR A JOB—AND IS WORTH THE PRICE.

• For still others, it simply means: MY PRODUCT IS BETTER THAN YOURS

One thing seems clear. If your company is to compete effectively in today’s world market, you need to know what ‘‘QUALITY’’ means to your company. Economic reality dictates that there is a difference in a PWB on a spacecraft vs. an inexpensive toy.

Finding words to describe your company’s philosophy on quality is not an easy task. It is even more difficult to communicate this meaning to your people. To do the job right, you need to do more than communicate a general concept of ‘‘QUALITY,’’ you need to inform your people as to how it impacts each element of your production process and your final product.

A key ingredient in the success of your company to produce the quality you want requires that your inspectors and your processing people fully understand and have a realistic awareness of what quality actually ‘‘looks like.’’

To help you in this most important educational need, the IPC has provided a CD-ROM depicting a wide variety of photographic illustrations of various anomalies and characteristics of printed wiring boards.

In addition, IPC has provided this booklet, which is designed to help you utilize the CD-ROM.

While we have provided photographic illustrations of characteristics of PWB’S, we have not indicated any specific evaluation of acceptance or rejection. This is your job! Once you are able to obtain a consensus as to what each slide means to your company, you can begin a training program to educate your people to the appropriate awareness of quality.