While IPC-9701 sets the standards for reliability testing, IPC-9704 offers specific guidance on how to execute these tests to predict the life of the assembly.
Without the IPC-9704 standard, companies would be guessing. A manufacturer might blame a "bad batch of chips" for failures, when the real culprit was a robotic gripper pressing too hard during a 2-second assembly step. By following this PDF, engineers can pinpoint exactly when and where a board is being stressed, saving millions in potential recalls. ipc-9704 pdf
The nightmare for any manufacturer is . During assembly, testing, or shipping, a circuit board might bend just a fraction of a millimeter. You can't see it with the naked eye, but that tiny flex can snap solder joints or cause "pad cratering," where the copper pad actually rips out of the board. The result? A device that works in the factory but dies the moment a customer opens the box. The Hero: IPC-9704 While IPC-9701 sets the standards for reliability testing,