Original Date: 10/04/1993
Revision Date: 01/18/2007

The Hamilton Standard Electronic Manufacturing Center (HSEMC) has developed a design review program in support of its producibility efforts and integrated product development (IPD) cycle. These reviews are conducted by experts from the design, test, and production departments. Producibility design rules are implemented in HSEMC's design for test practice and includes lessons learned. These mandatory producibility design rules are implemented for testing ease, diagnostics, reliability, and statistical process control (SPC) compatibility. Design for test subjects included in the producibility design rule encompass test access, test control, test observation, diagnostics, test equipment design, test equipment software, reliability, fault coverage, fault isolation, documentation, and SPC compatibility.

One set of design rules are followed to reduce the number of design books required for adequate design. The six sigma design process target increases test yields and improves design of performance by identifying tolerance variations from parts failure data. Analysis tools are available that allow designers to simulate component parameter distributions with multiple patterns. Automated factory feedback is available to confirm results or to aid new design decisions. Documentation on this process is required to include design reports, programmable array logic equations, engineering unit conversions, connector definitions, software flowcharts, software listings, and input/output address tables.

The design review program is presented in a Guidelines for Electronics Design Review document which outlines mandatory participants for each step. Team members must be experts in the area they are representing with a minimum of five years related experience. Lessons learned from the process are accessible to all associates with a VAX account and are periodically incorporated into the design guidelines. The design guideline document is dynamic in nature and therefore is constantly updated to meet the need for improvement.

Standard circuits are also used to reduce development time and to prevent an engineer from reinventing the wheel. These circuits are mandated for use by the Hamilton Standard Circuit document. Variations from the standards must be justified on the basis of performance, cost, or weight.

The use of design rules such as designing for testability, required documentation, and using pre-developed standard circuits provides a very efficient IPD process. More information known early in the process enhances and improves HSEMC's IPD process. The design review program established by Hamilton Standard has improved the yields and lowered its IPD time by involving all phases of the IPD cycle in the design phase.

For more information see the Point of Contact for this survey.