Automotive Industry Standards

The automotive industry has many standards related to electronic components, and for good reason. These standards help ensure safety, reliability, and environmental protection. They are necessary to operate the automotive industry effectively and efficiently, while also helping to drive innovation and facilitate international trade.

All systems developed using automotive electronics must be designed to withstand harsh environments. These components must function properly regardless of operating conditions. Therefore, the quality requirements for automotive electronic components are more stringent than for consumer products and must meet specific standards.

Two crucial criteria

Two important standards in the automotive industry are IATF 16949 and AEC-Q200. IATF 16949 is a global automotive industry quality management standard that combines multiple international standards and mainly focuses on the entire quality management system of automobile manufacturers and suppliers; while AEC-Q200 It is a stress test certification of passive components to ensure the reliability of specific electronic components under harsh conditions, with a special focus on the reliability and durability of passive electronic components used in automotive applications.

Although each standard focuses on different aspects in the automotive industry, both are critical to ensuring the quality and reliability of products used in the industry.

IATF 16949

Developed by the International Automotive Task Force (IATF), IATF 16949 is aligned with ISO 9001 and contains additional requirements specific to the automotive industry. This international quality management system (QMS) standard is designed specifically for the automotive industry and focuses on continuous improvement, defect prevention, and the reduction of variation and waste in the supply chain from design to delivery. The core requirements of the standard include:

• Quality Management System (QMS): Establish a structured QMS that meets customer and regulatory requirements
• Leadership and Commitment: Top management participates in QMS
• plan: Risk management, setting quality goals and planning changes
• support: Resource management, including human resources, infrastructure and environment
• Operation: Product life cycle process from design to delivery
• Performance evaluation: Monitor, measure, analyze, and evaluate QMS performance
• improve: Continuous improvement and corrective actions

Organizations are regularly audited by certification bodies to ensure compliance with IATF 16949 standards.

AEC-Q200

AEC-Q200 was developed by the Automotive Electronics Council (AEC), an organization established in the 1990s by the three major U.S. automakers - Chrysler, Ford and General Motors. 'The purpose is to establish global parts qualification and quality system standards for automotive electronic components. They are the standardization body responsible for establishing benchmarks for reliability and certification of electronic components. Components that meet committee specifications and standards are suitable for use in harsh automotive environments without requiring additional component-level qualification testing.
The core requirements of the standard include:

• Stress test: Components need to withstand various stress tests, such as temperature cycles, humidity, vibration, mechanical shock, etc.
• Electrical properties: Test electrical parameters such as capacitance, resistance, inductance, and insulation resistance.
• Mechanical properties: Ensures mechanical robustness and integrity.
• Environmental testing: Exposure to environmental factors such as salt spray, thermal shock, and moisture resistance.

Components must pass a series of tests specified by AEC-Q200 to gain approval. The testing process ensures components meet the reliability and durability standards required for automotive use.

Aker Technology automotive grade crystals (CXAF series) have passed all test items of AEC-Q200 Rev-E and AEC-Q200-002 REV-B, with a classification level of 6. Aker Technology offers a full line of AEC-Q200 Rev. D qualified crystals, including CXAF-751, CXAF-631, CXAF-531, and CXAF-421. When critical timing components are required that meet strict industry specifications, Aker Technology qualified crystal. These qualified crystals meet AEC specifications and standards for use in harsh automotive environments without requiring additional component-level qualification testing.

Both standards play an important role in the automotive industry. IATF 16949 governs the overall quality management practices of automotive manufacturers and suppliers, while AEC-Q200 ensures the reliability of specific passive components used in automotive electronics.