Effective Test Program Management Requires Planning Effective Test Program Management can add value to product development when its true value has been identified.  Too often product testing is left to the last moment, calls are made to test laboratories to ask what testing is required.  Equipment and somebody from the engineering team is transported off

MIL STD 810H Humidity MIL STD 810H Humidity Method 507.6 is a test method for evaluating products that are likely to be stored and/or operated in a warm, humid environment.  MIL-STD-810 Environmental Engineering Considerations and Laboratory Tests is a Department of Defense (DoD) standard for military and commercial applications.  It is a series of laboratory

What is an Electromagnetic Pulse? Electronic products have Electromagnetic Pulse Vulnerabilities that could cripple infrastructure systems across the planet.  It is a serious concern that a number of agencies have reported on at length.   The Critical National Infrastructure Commission report of 2008 is one such example that outlines some dire possibilities. Electromagnetic Pulses (EMP) can

The Growth of RF Spectrum Usage, EMI and Device Coexistance Increased reliance on radio frequency communication has created issues for Electromagnetic Interference EMI and Device Coexistance.  Cellular devices and equipment using the Internet of Things (IoT) are major causes of this increase.  This has effected product development strategies for both commercial and defense applications, particularly

Medical Equipment EMC and Electrical Susceptibility Issues Incidents of medical equipment EMC susceptibility failures highlight the necessity of adequately accessing the electrical and electromagnetic environment of modern medical facilities.  Many of these were featured in the January 2020 IN Compliance Banana Peels column.  While the need for reliable operation of medical equipment is obvious, this

Product Compliance Testing Product compliance testing is a requirement for bringing products to market.  These tests vary dependent on which global market sectors are being targeted.  Requirements differ from product type to product type and standards are constantly being created and revised.  It requires a great deal of effort to stay current on what testing

Water is a Major Concern in Product Ruggedness Testing Water is part of many test methods when evaluating product ruggedness. We live in a world that is predominated by the substance, and its effects on products for any application are severe. Because of this, products must be evaluated for their abilities to endure exposure to

When to Start Using MIL-STD-810 Most product designers begin using MIL STD 810 when they are ready to select test methodologies to evaluate a product, but to get the most from this standard it should be employed when first establishing design criteria and specifications.  Using the standard this way can save significant time and money

MIL STD 461 RE102 Radiated Emissions Testing MIL-STD-461 RE102 is a test method for evaluating electric field radiated emissions from systems and subsystems enclosures and cabling designed for U.S. military applications.  Requirements and testing vary for intended platform of intended installation.  The frequency ranges applicable for various platforms are: Ground:  2 MHz to 18 GHz

MIL-STD-810 Shock Methods and Procedures MIL-STD-810 contains numerous shock methods and procedures.  This is because the types of shock likely to be encountered during a product’s logistic, tactical, and operational service life are substantial.  MIL-STD-810 therefore, must contain multiple methods and procedures to simulate these events in laboratory testing.  To ensure effective developmental test and

MIL-STD-810 H Places Added Requirements on Product Developers and Test Labs. MIL-STD-810 H was released in 2019.  This revision not only included major alterations and in many cases complete rewrites of test methods and procedures but also revised requirements that effect the manner in which all testing must be conducted.  These requirements effect both test

Military Susceptibility Testing Military Susceptibility Testing is performed to determine if a product can maintain normal operation when exposed to electrical, magnetic, and radio frequency, emissions and disturbances likely to be found in its intended environment.  In military applications, the density of equipment on a given platform and the levels of potential emissions and disturbances

Military Power Quality Testing Can Be Challenging Test requirements for equipment designed for use on military platforms include a number of power quality standards.  These standards evaluate the equipment’s ability to operate normally when subjected to disturbances characteristically found on their platform of intended use.  They also place limits on the level of disturbance the

Product Liability Issues can be Prevented by Proper Test and Evaluation Product Liability and Testing are areas that are of increased concern for product developers and manufacturers.  As products become more complex, properly designed test and evaluation programs must verify designs to prevent product liability issues that can greatly damage a company’s reputation. What is Product Liability?