When designing aerospace and defense PCBs, you might require certain documentation from your fabricator. These records help verify compliance with design requirements, support traceability, and provide evidence of inspection and testing.
Examples include first article inspection reports (FAIRs), certificates of conformance (CoCs), and customer-specific test records. These are not included as standard deliverables.
PCB procurement engineers should clearly specify their requirements in the purchase order (PO), as generating these reports incurs additional costs.
In this article, we will list the aerospace and defense printed board documents you can procure from your fab and assembly houses.
Highlights:
- Aerospace and defense PCB reports can include AS9102 FAIRs, validation reports, functional testing, flying probe, and X-ray reports.
- Identify documentation requirements during project planning and specify them in the PO.
- Additional documentation may require extra inspection, testing, and reporting work.
List of on-demand aerospace and defense PCB documents
Depending on your project requirements, you may need custom FAIR, production part approval process (PPAP) documents, installation, operational, and performance qualification (IQ/OQ/PQ) records, advanced product quality planning (APQP), and test reports.
The table below outlines common documentation available for printed board assemblies, when you should consider requesting it, and what each report may include.
| Documentation | What it means | When should you ask for it? | What you’ll receive |
|---|---|---|---|
General FAIR |
Sierra Circuits’ standard FAIR verifies that a board from the assembly lot, identified by a single serial number, meets the specified drawing and assembly requirements | Prototypes without a specific FAIR format requirement |
|
AS9102 FAIR
|
FAI documentation for one serial number in the assembly lot, completed in accordance with the AS9102 standard | Aviation, space, and defense products |
|
Custom FAIR
|
First article inspection report as per the customer’s template | OEMs with proprietary FAIR format |
|
Inspection report
|
Inspection results for each serial number in the production lot | Product manufacturers require individual inspection reports |
|
Advanced CoC
|
Certificates of conformance verify assembly, material, and special process compliance, with no inspection report included | Material or special-process certifications need to accompany the shipment |
|
PPAP |
A production part approval process package prepared according to AS9145 or the customer’s specified format | Programs requiring formal production-part approval and process-capability evidence |
|
IQ/OQ/PQ/APQP |
Documents covering qualification and quality-planning activities for box-build units. | Products requiring formal qualification of equipment, processes, and production capability |
|
Product validation/special requests |
Customized reports demonstrating product or process capability. | Customer requirements include product or process validation or statistical data and reporting |
|
Functional test report
|
Summary of ICT or functional testing performed on each unit | Boards require functional verification with documented test results |
|
Flying probe report |
Electrical verification of PCB connectivity using flying probe testing | Prototype or low-volume board assemblies requiring electrical verification |
|
X-ray image report |
X-ray inspection of hidden solder joints and internal connections | BGA, QFN, and other packages with hidden solder joints |
|
|
Other reports |
Additional compliance or customer-specific documentation | Projects requiring additional certifications, records, or supporting evidence |
|
At Sierra Circuits, we build PCBs compliant with IPC, ISO, mil-spec, and ITAR standards.
To learn more, see aerospace and defense PCB capabilities.
Aerospace and defense PCB documentation supports inspection, testing, quality, and traceability in circuit boards. Quality engineers, product developers, and procurement teams may need different documentation depending on project specifications. Identifying documentation requirements early helps ensure the necessary reports and certifications are specified in the purchase order.
For more details on manufacturing and traceability requirements, book a meeting to talk to a PCB expert or call us at +1 (800) 763-7503.
To learn how to design reliable aerospace boards, download the IPC Class 3 Design Guide.
IPC Class 3 Design Guide
8 Chapters - 23 Pages - 35 Minute ReadWhat's Inside:
- IPC guidelines for manufacturing defects
- IPC standards for assembly processes
- Common differences between the classes
- IPC documents to set the level of acceptance criteria
