Who IPC is
IPC is the electronics assembly standards body. Its documents are the de-facto acceptance language between OEMs and CMs. If your PO does not cite a class, you and your supplier are arguing about 'good' with no shared definition.
Key takeaways
- IPC-A-610 defines what "good" looks like; Class 2 covers most products, Class 3 the high-reliability ones.
- IPC-6012 is the bare-board qualification; Class 3 demands tighter etch, hole and plating limits.
- Specify the class up front — building to Class 3 when Class 2 suffices adds cost you may not need.
- For medical, automotive and aerospace, Class 3 plus full traceability is the baseline buyers expect.
| Class | Acceptance | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | General | Toys, commodity electronics |
| Class 2 | Dedicated service | Most consumer / industrial |
| Class 3 | High reliability | Medical, automotive, aerospace |
IPC-6012: the bare board spec
IPC-6012 defines what a finished bare board must be — conductor width, hole wall plating, annular ring, dielectric, registration. It is the document your fabricator qualifies against. A board built to 6012 Class 2 is not the same animal as Class 3.
IPC-A-610: the assembly acceptability
IPC-A-610 is the visual acceptability of the assembled board — solder fillet shape, heel fillets, cleanliness, component damage. This is what the inspector uses on the line. Three classes, in rising strictness:
- Class 1: general electronic products — function is enough.
- Class 2: dedicated service products — most commercial gear.
- Class 3: high-performance, life-support, aerospace/defense — zero tolerance for ambiguity.
IPC-7711/7721: rework
When a board needs repair, these define how to rework without degrading it. A CM that quotes Class 3 should also follow these on any fix.
What to put in your PO
State the class (usually Class 2, Class 3 for medical/auto/aero) and reference IPC-A-610 as the acceptability standard. Our assembly process is qualified to the class your industry needs; tell us the end market and we set the bar. Get a quote with the class stated up front.
