As board shops, contract assemblers, and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) begin to understand the power of ion chromatography (IC) as a method to improve the quality and reliability of manufactured product, more will seek to bring this once-specialized science in house. However, there is a broad gap between the purchase of an ion chromatograph and realizing the benefits of a finely tuned chromatography lab. This paper is intended for those contemplating setting up an IC lab to educate them on all of the little things involved that are seldom mentioned in the glossy sales brochures. This paper contains many of the practical considerations in setting up ion chromatography that the authors wish they had when they started.