1. Single-Phase Qualification of Microcircuits in ESCC 9000
Fernando Martinez / ESTEC
Presented at AMICSA on 18/06/2018

2. This is a true story

3. Overview Introduction and Motivation What has changed
What has NOT changed
Conclusion, Q&A

4. Introduction. Qualification…a well-known term
This is a Launch Readiness Review
At this point, not much time is left to speculate about whether or how some piece of hardware is qualified!
Luckily, at the level of EEE parts like microcircuits, some specs and standards allow to address these questions systematically, on the basis of accumulated experience and knowledge…

5. Introduction. in a nutshell… what is ESCC about?
  EEE Component community-engineering* for procurement and qualification testing, derating, radiation hardness assurance, test methods, …
 Helping to channel scarce public resources for new EEE space components “made in Europe” to where there is a solid need, present or future
 Establishing a dependable base of suppliers of EEE space components for the European space industry
 Supporting the promotion of European EEE components in other markets (ASIA, AMERICA)
Builds on decades of cooperation, first ESA/SCC qualifications date back to the early 70’s
* In coordination and collaboration between manufacturers + users + space agencies

6. Motivation (1)
What are the main worries for EEE parts specialists in the space sector?

7. Motivation (2)
ESCC Qualification adds and sustains value for component manufacturers and users.
What are its advantages?
Simplified procurement with reduced lot-specific costs
Workmanship and performance issues are infrequent with ESCC qualified parts.
High product maturity, high TRL and low rate of obsolescence are typical of ESCC qualified parts
Simplified parts approval process – for projects complying with ECSS-Q-ST-60C
Proven supply chains - periodic testing and audit are inherent to the system
Solid performance - very high repeatability between manufacturing lots and across manufacturers (multiple sources may be qualified to a common standard)

8. Motivation (3)

9. What has changed? (1) All ESCC schemes of Qualification include:
an evaluation stage
and a qualification testing stage
As time to market is a key performance indicator for the ESCC system….
To further expedite and simplify the Qualification Process it has been decided to introduce a new Single Phase Qualification Flow which integrates the existing evaluation (1) and qualification (2)phases, accelerating the sequence of activities and producing the same level of confidence in the qualified components as before.

10. What has changed? (2)
Candidate parts for SPQ: ONLY wire-bond hermetic microcircuits. (1) An initial assessment concludes with a Manufacturer’s review that combines: A review of Manufacturers’ data, which must address all specific requirements to the satisfaction of the agencies + An audit on QMS an manufacturing line A single Qualification test plan is required. (2) (1) Therefore, for the moment, the Qualification of other forms of microcircuits (flip-chip, die form only) still requires two stages of test (2) The implementation of evaluation testing is therefore NOT required if an agreement may be reached at the time of the Manufacturer’s review in this respect

11. What has changed? (3) The Initial Assessment…
reviews the manufacturer’s status of conformance with general ESCC requirements, such as a commitment to maintain the mid-term availability of product in the market, a commitment to maintain qualification, the implementation of ESCC-specific Quality Assurance requirements and other documentation requirements.
 reviews as the component in question regarding its construction, performances, compatibility with the Space environment and intrinsic reliability.
 aims at a better assessment of the qualified components for their compatibility with their use and application with regards to: mission reliability, radiation hardness or its assembly onto a printed circuit board.
The initial assessment concludes with a Manufacturer Data Review, an “extended audit”, where the ESCC Executive confirms adequacy and completeness of the data. The Manufacturer Data Review in fact substitutes the Evaluation phase specified in general in ESCC for other technologies and opens the door to the only stage of Qualification testing required.

12. What has changed? (4)
ESCC 9000 Chart F4A has been revised in detail… and the changes are:
Environmental / Mechanical SG. Test condition letter C (-65°C/+150°C) is now specified for Temperature Cycling in accordance with MIL-STD-883, Test Method 1010 (where it was letter B, -55°C/+125°C).
Endurance SG. The possibility that the duration of OLT may need to be extended up to 4000 hours has been implemented (where it was 2000 hours). The sampling size has also been increased, up to 45 pieces, for OLT at the time of (initial) Qualification Testing.
Assembly Capability SG. An Internal Gas Analysis has been added (MIL-STD-883, Test Method 1018).

13. What has not changed?
ESCC Quality Assurance system is not changed, the fast-track to Qualification does not imply any corners got cut!: traceability, configuration control, documentation, etc…
Requirements for Maintenance of Qualification (or Loss of Qualification!) remain the same… The requirements for Periodic testing apply just as well. Also, as the rest of ESCC Qualification schemes, SPQ is NOT a self-certification scheme
The Qualification Reports (QPL and QML) make no distinction on SPQ of classic two-stage qualifications. Procedural aspects are not changed for SPQ.

14. Conclusion We want to have more good parts to do reliably the job!
We hope that SPQ for microcircuits may help that goal and improve:
(1) performance of space systems
(2) business of industry and manufacturers

15. For more info on the ESCC Qualification Program, visit: https:escies
or contact us at: