Evans
Analytical Group (EAG), the world's leading, fully integrated, independent
laboratory network providing high value expert analytical and testing services
to a wide range of industries and end users, recently announced it has launched a
comprehensive electronics
system failure analysis service. Extending
its proven microelectronic test and engineering services portfolio, EAG is now
one of the only companies to focus on the entire system, from electronics to
materials, all the way down to failure mechanisms occurring at the IC
transistor level.
“As
electronics systems become smaller, more complex, and more deeply embedded in
our daily lives, the cost of failure has risen exponentially,” said Aram
Sarkissian, General Manager of the Microelectronics Test and Engineering
Division of EAG. “We offer the unique
combination of extensive expertise, specialized tools, and a comprehensive
methodology for identifying and resolving complex failure mechanisms in a digitally-dependent
society where downtime and product recalls are increasingly costly.”
EAG’s
failure analysis offering is one of the broadest multi-disciplinary services
available, including both electrical testing and materials characterization. The company uses the latest high-resolution
imaging and electrical localization tools, and employs a holistic approach that
is customized for each customer situation.
These capabilities are increasingly important given the growing
complexity of electronics systems, rapid pace of miniaturization, special
characteristics of advanced technology processes, intermittent nature of system
malfunctions, and challenges associated with the exotic materials used to
design and manufacture today’s components.
“The
increasing complexity and pervasiveness of electronics is the number one
challenge for design and test engineers, increasing the need for electronic
systems failure analysis,” said Jessy Cavazos, Frost & Sullivan’s Industry Director
for the Test & Measurement group.
“In the automotive industry, alone, failures can occur anywhere in an
increasingly complex mix of in-vehicle networking, telematics, infotainment and
other systems, and this is generating growing demand for highly specialized
tools, services and expertise such as those that EAG is offering.”
Cost of Failure
The
demand for electronic system failure analysis is growing as processors and
system-on-chip (SoC) devices have reached billions of transistors, process
technology has advanced to 28-nanometer nodes and below, more complex materials
are now used being used in electronic systems at the board, IC package and die
level and the cost of system failure has risen.
For instance, the average cost of an unplanned data center outage at a
telecom service provider or e-Commerce company is estimated to have reached
$11,000 per minute (Ponemon Institute, “Calculating the Cost of Data Center
Outages,” 2011). Approximately 55
percent of all small- to medium-sized business data disasters are caused by
hardware failure (Quorum Q1 2013 Disaster Recover Report), which are also responsible
for an estimated 72 percent of all network downtime (“Understanding Network
Failures in Data Centers: Measurement,
Analysis and Implications,” Microsoft and University of Toronto). Failures also contribute to costly product
recalls, with an estimated 15 percent of all consumer electronic products failing
over the first three years. Nearly 59
million products were recalled during 2012 by the Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC).
EAG’s
new electronic system failure analysis service addresses these and other challenges
through:
- · Multidisciplinary approach including both electrical and physical analysis to enhance identification of root cause, failure mechanism and how to prevent future failures
- · Proven expertise in microelectronics with a strong history of working in the component and system level
- · Advanced toolset and a comprehensive, $150 million investment in specialized capital equipment
- · Flexibility to customize the failure analysis service to specific needs
- · Quick answers to improve product design and long-term reliability
- · Detection of issues during prototype and pre-production to correct product issues early in the development cycle at a reduced cost.
For
more information, please visit http://www.eag.com/mte/electronics-failure-analysis.html
or contact info.mte@eag.com.
About Evans Analytical Group
EAG
is the world's leading, fully integrated, independent laboratory network. EAG's
Materials Characterization Division provides high value analytical services
focused on surface analysis and materials characterization in support of high
technology industries. The Company's Release to Production Division provides
expert engineering service and support from chip tape-out to volume production
in support of the electronics industry. EAG’s AgroSciences and Environmental
Testing division provides analytical chemistry, environmental fate, metabolism
and eco-toxicology services for agrochemicals, industrial chemicals,
pharmaceuticals and animal health products. EAG has an international network of
laboratories and serves more than 5,500 customers worldwide. (www.eaglabs.com)