Profession printed circuit board test technician

Printed circuit board test technicians inspect and test printed circuit boards. They perform a range of printed circuit board testing procedures and may perform minor repairs.

Personality Type

• Conventional / Realistic

Knowledge

• Instrument performance elements

  Elements that indicate or influence instrument performance. A first indication of the performance of the instrument is the accuracy or precision of the instrument, such as its response time, resolution, and range. A second indication of performance is the technical performance of the instrument, such as its power level, the electromagnetic interference, and transient voltages. A third indication of performance are environmental factors that can influence instrument performance, such as humidity, operating temperatures, or dust.

• Electronic equipment standards

  The national and international quality and safety standards and regulations with regards to the use and manufacture of electronic equipment and its components, such as semiconductors and printed circuit boards.

• Printed circuit boards

  Printed circuit boards (PCB) are essential components to almost all electronic devices. They consist of thin wafers or substrates on which electronic components, such as microchips, are placed. The electronic components are electrically connected through conductive tracks and pads.

• Quality assurance procedures

  The procedures to inspect a product or system to ensure that it is according to specifications and requirements.

• Printed circuit boards testing methods

  Printed circuit board (PCB) testing methods consist of those processes in which PCB components or systems are tested, such as the in-circuit test (ICT), joint test action group (JTAG) test, and automated optical inspection (AOI).

• Electronics

  The functioning of electronic circuit boards, processors, chips, and computer hardware and software, including programming and applications. Apply this knowledge to ensure electronic equipment runs smoothly.

• Integrated circuits

  Electronic components, made up from a set of electronic circuits which are placed on semiconductor material, such as silicon. Integrated circuits (IC) can hold billions of electronic components on a microscale and are one of basic components of electronic devices.

• Circuit diagrams

  Read and comprehend circuit diagrams showing the connections between the devices, such as power and signal connections.

• In-circuit test

  Test to assess the correct manufacture of printed circuit boards (PCB). The in-circuit test (ICT) tests for shorts, resistance, and capacitance, and can be performed with a "bed of nails" tester or with a fixtureless in-circuit test (FICT).

Skills

• Report defective manufacturing materials

  Maintain required company records and forms in order to report any defective materials or questionable conditions of manufacturing machinery and equipment.

• Meet deadlines

  Ensure operative processes are finished at a previously agreed-upon time.

• Ensure conformity to specifications

  Ensure that the assembled products are conform to the specifications given.

• Perform in-circuit test

  Conduct in-circuit test (ICT) to assess whether the printed circuit boards (PCB) were correctly manufactured. The ICT tests for shorts, resistance, and capacitance, and can be performed with a "bed of nails" tester or with a fixtureless in-circuit test (FICT).

• Ensure material compliance

  Ensure that the materials provided by suppliers comply with the specified requirements.

• Perform test run

  Perform tests putting a system, machine, tool or other equipment through a series of actions under actual operating conditions in order to assess its reliability and suitability to realise its tasks, and adjust settings accordingly.

• Communicate test results to other departments

  Communicate testing information such as testing schedules, samples testing statistics and test results, to the relevant departments.

• Inspect quality of products

  Use various techniques to ensure the product quality is respecting the quality standards and specifications. Oversee defects, packaging and sendbacks of products to different production departments.

• Troubleshoot

  Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.

• Test printed circuit boards

  Test the printed circuit board with special testing adapters to ensure optimal efficiency, functionality, and that everything works according to design. Adapt the testing devices to the type of circuit board.

• Check for solder defects

  Check the printed circuit board for solder defects and make adjustments as required.

• Read standard blueprints

  Read and comprehend standard blueprints, machine, and process drawings.

• Read assembly drawings

  Read and interpret drawings listing all the parts and subassemblies of a certain product. The drawing identifies the different components and materials and provides instructions on how to assemble a product.

• Process customer requests based on the REACh Regulation 1907 2006

  Reply to private consumer requests according to REACh Regulation 1907/2006 whereby chemical Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) should be minimal. Advise customers on how to proceed and protect themselves if the presence of SVHC is higher than expected.

• Measure electrical characteristics

  Measure voltage, current, resistance or other electrical characteristics by using electrical measuring equipment such as multimeters, voltmeters, and ammeters.

• Abide by regulations on banned materials

  Comply with regulations banning heavy metals in solder, flame retardants in plastics, and phthalate plasticisers in plastics and wiring harness insulations, under EU RoHS/WEEE Directives and China RoHS legislation.

• Send faulty equipment back to assembly line

  Send equipment that didn't pass inspection back to the assembly line for re-assembly.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB