A reference work for those involved in the design, fabrication and testing of electronic components.

What is it about?

The book is divided into four main parts, showing possible answers to four questions: • Why is so important to use the FA? Eight possible reasons are presented: (i) Forensic investigation; (ii) Reliability modelling; (iii) Reverse engineering; (iv) Controlling critical input variables; (v) Design for Reliability; (vi) Process improvement; (vii) Saving money by early control; (viii) A synergetic approach. • When are the appropriate moments for using FA? It is recommended to use FA during the whole life of any electronic components, starting from the design (based on previous knowledge about FMs of similar or quasi-similar components, as part of the Concurrent Engineering approach, i.e. the participation from the first phase and until the last one of all persons that are responsible for product achievement), continuing with prototyping, fabrication, but also (and most important) after fabrication, during the reliability testing and the operational life of the product. • How to use FA? This is a veritable guide containing a large variety of methods of FA (electrical methods, thermal methods, optical methods, electron microscopy, mechanical methods, x-ray methods, spectroscopic methods, acoustical methods, laser methods, etc.). • What is the result of using FA? Typical FMs for the most important technologies used for manufacturing electronic components (silicon bipolar and MOS technologies, optoelectronic and photonic technologies, non-silicon technologies, hybrid technologies and microsystem technologies) are detailed. To be noted that the main technologies are discussed, and not the main products, because the FMs are, more or less, dependent on technologies, and, of course, on the main applications of the product! A chapter containing 12 complex case studies is following, covering the main technologies and using various methods of FA. This is a synthesis of the previous main parts, containing some practical lessons about using FA.

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Why is it important?

We think failure analysis is sometimes misused, a collection of nice photos and sophisticated methods replacing a logic and coherent analysis! This is why a practical guide in FA seems to be a necessary tool. Today, a book of this kind, able to orient the reliability engineers in the complicated procedures of the failure analysis is missing! It is our hope to fill this empty space.