B37941 EPCOS AG, B37941 Datasheet - Page 3

• Manufacturer Part Number: B37941
• Description: Multilayer Ceramic Capacitors
• Manufacturer: EPCOS AG

General
Criteria for high reliability
For both OEMs and component manufacturers, high reliability is assured by consistent process
control. If it is assumed that the component manufacturer supplies a defect-free product, then fur-
ther correct processing by the customer forms the basis for perfect operation of the components
and thus the entire application. So the precondition for high quality is not exclusively a particular
“intermediate product“ (such as the ceramic capacitor) but rather the process control along the
entire production chain up to its end point. This requires a high degree of mutual process under-
standing between the various partners (e.g. component manufacturer and placement operator) and
the formulation of joint quality guidelines.
AEC-Q200 is a standard for quality requirements on components in various technologies. In view
of its general character, AEC-Q200 does not apply to every component to the same extent and thus
defines a minimum requirement on quality. AEC-Q200 stipulates the observance of limits that can
be checked by means of a good/bad decision. It therefore permits a qualitative statement but not a
quantitative one. However, it is precisely the latter that is important if we wish to approach “zero
defects”. So process control moves to center stage and becomes the decisive element for ensuring
and continuously improving the maximum possible reliability.
EPCOS has implemented this paradigm change and thus laid the foundation for a zero defect strat-
egy. This concept is integrated in the “ppb level assurance system“ and is particularly realized and
continuously developed further in the Advanced series.
The requirements made on the Advanced series exceed those of AEC-Q200. The criteria are clearly
oriented to the aim of achieving “zero defects”. An important precondition for high component reli-
ability is the production of the ceramic powder at our own plant. Only by knowing all the inter-
relationships and effects from the raw material to the completed component can the self-imposed
quality criteria actually be implemented in all production steps. EPCOS has been developing and
manufacturing its own ceramic powder for ceramic capacitors for many years so that the component
quality can be assured from the first step of manufacture.
ppb level assurance system
The precondition for reliability at ppb level is, apart from process knowledge, a high degree of pro-
cess control. To achieve this, the entire production process is subdivided systematically into sub-
processes that are continuously checked with static methods on the basis of quantifiable parame-
ters. These analysis methods are used by EPCOS within the scope of the Advanced series for all
production steps from ceramic powder production and component design up to the 100% electrical
testing.
Please read Cautions and warnings and
Important notes at the end of this document.
Multilayer ceramic capacitors
Advanced series
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