Functional Production Test
A functional production test is running the board under real supply before shipment and verifying its inputs, outputs, interfaces and protection behaviour one by one. Faults such as a wrong-value component or a cold solder joint, which visual inspection cannot catch, only come to light in this test.
A typical test sequence proceeds in this order:
- Short circuit check: before the supply is applied, the resistance between the input terminals is measured; if there is a short circuit, power is not applied to the board.
- No-load current: a consumption outside the expected range is an early indicator of a wrong component or a placement error.
- Input-output verification: every input is stimulated and the response of the relevant output is measured.
- Measurement under load: the outputs are driven with a real load and the voltage drop and heating are checked.
- Protection trial: overcurrent behaviour and, if required, reverse supply behaviour are tested in a controlled way.
- Software and label: the version is read back, the serial number is printed, the result is recorded.
The scope of the test is derived from the requirement list; for each requirement item the question "is this to be verified on every board, or on a sample" is answered. Boards that give a fail result are set aside and the failure cause is recorded and used in improving the production process.
The context in which this term is used: Our Services