Another reason is the Customer wants it done. Believe it or not, some customers want this process in place to help prevent defects from ending up at their door and they believe the process works. In addition, new products are often different than previous products, especially for CM's. The first article is the opportunity to take a look at the first boards off the line from an "entire process" standpoint. Anything can go wrong. -----Original Message----- From: Steve Thomas [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Tuesday, October 08, 2002 1:38 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [TN] First Article Buy-off Process for SMT & Wave Solder I know of 3 reasons. The oversimplified rationale is that it's easier to detect mistakes in someone else's work. It's the same reason that I like to have someone else proofread docs that I originate after I've proofed them a time or two myself, even after running a spellcheck. It also guarantees that two sets of eyes have witnessed the results of the operation for better coverage. Finally, it's the elimination of the opportunity for a conflict of interest, or the "fox watching the henhouse". For stuff like medical products assembly, GMP REQUIRES that any verification of a process step has to be performed by someone other than the individual that performed the step, whether it's setup, assembly, repair, etc. If you can't verify the process steps that can contribute to defects, you have to inspect the product itself. I'm sure similar adaptations of the same basic practice have been applied to military, aerospace, etc., although I haven't worked in those fields personally. -----Original Message----- From: Poh Kong Hui [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Tuesday, October 08, 2002 8:54 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [TN] First Article Buy-off Process for SMT & Wave Solder Hi Technetters, I would to share some experience with you all. I have been working for 5 companies. I realize that every company that I worked for, has a buy-off system; so called the first article buy-off before releasing the either a SMT or wave soldering line for mass production. I am rather curious why the people who are managing the lines cannot perform their own self check, but rather depends upon someone to check their work and to ensure they loaded the right to the machine or to the boards. I would like to hear your opinion about this system as I find it rather stupid and it is wasting time. Poh --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8e To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/html/forum.htm for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.5315 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8e To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/html/forum.htm for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.5315 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------