Electronic Test Equipment Blog

With the cost of test continuing to rise, do you collect enterprise quality data with the goal of reducing the cost of designing and manufacturing goods? Do you collect data to comply with government regulatory requirements? Is your top concern customer satisfaction? If you have such a program, how do you use that data to meet your determined goals? What tools do you use or recommend? If you don't collect and apply enterprise quality data, what is your rationale?

The preceding article is a "sneak peek" from Electronic Test Equipment, a newsletter from GlobalSpec. To stay up-to-date and informed on industry trends, products, and technologies, subscribe to Electronic Test Equipment today.

How many articles have you read recently about the growing shortage of engineers? As demand continues to grow for new engineers, education reform initiated by programs like Engineers in the Classroom, Project Lead the Way, and Engineering is Elementary hope to spark interest in an industry looking for a new generation of workers. But can these efforts help produce a better prepared workforce? Is this the best way to promote our profession?

The preceding article is a "sneak peek" from Electronic Test Equipment, a newsletter from GlobalSpec. To stay up-to-date and informed on industry trends, products, and technologies, subscribe to Electronic Test Equipment today.

Data acquisition plays a major role in any electronic test system. But you deal with both analog and digital devices. And you have wired and wireless systems, and a variety of communications protocols and connector types. So my question is, what tradeoffs do you need to make when designing your test system? Software, operating systems, memory, and so on are digital. How much is performance affected by your selection of analog data converters, op amps, multiplexers, and other devices? Are there certain basic steps to build upon to ensure success? What guidelines do you recommend?

The preceding article is a "sneak peek" from Electronic Test Equipment, a newsletter from GlobalSpec. To stay up-to-date and informed on industry trends, products, and technologies, subscribe to Electronic Test Equipment today.

Can you provide a total test solution? Do you know what that entails? For one, it requires being able to provide advanced data management. A total test solution also requires process monitoring tools, Automated Test Equipment (ATE), Specific To Type (STT) equipment, and early life failure screening techniques. And then you need to compile and archive test data, as well as analyze product returns. And did you remember to periodically calibrate all of you test equipment? What level of planning, financing, and follow through is necessary? How well do you compare right now?

The preceding article is a "sneak peek" from Electronic Test Equipment, a newsletter from GlobalSpec. To stay up-to-date and informed on industry trends, products, and technologies, subscribe to Electronic Test Equipment today.

As IC and board design increases in complexity, software and embedded test instruments will become increasingly important. We may soon see full logic analysis on a chip. But before you run out and buy that spectrum analyzer on a chip, remember that external test equipment will still be needed. How are you planning for the future of test?

The preceding article is a "sneak peek" from Electronic Test Equipment, a newsletter from GlobalSpec. To stay up-to-date and informed on industry trends, products, and technologies, subscribe to Electronic Test Equipment today.