Wire Harness Assembly Standards: IPC/WHMA-A-620C
Following IPC Wire Harness Assembly Standards offers tremendous benefits for Wire Harness Manufacturers.
The Wire Harness Manufacturer’s Association and the IPC (Association Connecting Electronics Industries) combined forces to create the “IPC/WHMA-A-620A Requirements and Acceptance for Cable and Wire Harness Assemblies” which is an amazing resource for Wire Harness Manufacturers.
The IPC/WHMA-A-620C serves as the only industry-consensus international Wire Harness Assembly Standard for the performance and acceptance of cable and wire harness assemblies.
As you well know, manufacturing products based on strict industry standards creates a healthy competitive advantage.
This also ensures high quality products which in turn creates satisfied customers.
Consequently, manufacturing Wire Harness Assemblies falls in this category.
Especially since Wire Harness Manufacturing comes with many challenges.
There are many moving parts (no pun intended).
In particular, electrical components keep getting smaller and smaller.
This invites many demands for Wire Harness Manufacturers to stay current with proper crimp tools and equipment due to decreasing sizes.
In addition, staff training also plays a critical role.
As a result, keeping current with Wire Harness Assembly Standards keeps a company aligned with customer expectations.
For that reason, closely following IPC/WHMA-A-620C Wire Harness Assembly Standards serves as an absolute top priority for Wire Harness Manufacturers.
IPC/WHMA-A-620C: Wire Harness Assembly Standards
Creating a wire harness assembly without following a standardized guide could lead to disaster.
Above all, poor assembly methods creates extremely unhappy customers.
The guiding principle of the IPC Wire Harness Assembly standardization efforts include the following:
- Show relationship for Design for Manufacturability and Design for the Environment
- Minimize time to market
- Contain simple language
- Focus on end product performance
- Include a feedback system on use and problems for future improvement
Most importantly, the standard creates a consistency among manufacturers and purchasers. Maintaining a consistent level of acceptability helps prevent misunderstandings between parties.
Additionally, the IPC standard follows all procedures to qualify for ANSI approval.
Above all, this book deliver priceless information for seasoned veterans as well as those brand new to creating a wire harness.
For example, manufacturers, engineers and new product developers will find information in this book invaluable.
This book covers a wealth of topics including preparation, soldered and crimp terminations, insulation, slices and much more.
The IPC/WHMA-A-620A provides helpful information on Wire Harness Manufacturing Terms and Definitions.
To learn more, click on this helpful link: Wire Harness Manufacturing Terms, Tools, and Tips of the Trade.
IPC Wire Harness Assembly Standards
Furthermore, this book offers guidance on the requirements and acceptance for cable and wire harness assemblies using Wire Harness Manufacturing Association Technical Guidelines.
The book explains proper methods of soldering and terminating wires. It also extensively covers electrical testing methods.
In addition, the book provides hundreds of helpful photos displaying clear details on acceptable results versus defective production.
If you or your company are new to producing wire harnesses, you will find the IPC/WHMA-A-620A Requirements and Acceptance for Cable and Wire Harness Assemblies extremely beneficial.
IPC EDGE Offers Online Video Training
As a non-profit trade association, IPC now offers complete library of training videos for Wire Harness Manufacturers and companies performing Electronics Assembly.
Most importantly, this electronics assembly training video series is industry developed and award winning.
The videos offers operator-level training in areas such as Hand Soldering, Wire Harness Assembly, ESD Control, Rework and Repair as well as IPC-A-610 Criteria.
Furthermore, instructional videos from IPC serve as a powerful tool for basic training and orientation for new employees. Videos from the IPC EDGE learning portal can be viewed right on site at your facility or classroom.
Meanwhile, click on each link to a preview on the IPCS Wire Harness Assembly Process on YouTube:
56C — Wire Harness Assembly
58C — Wire Crimping
59C — Wire Preparation
62C — Connector Assembly
152C — Terminology Training for Wire Assembly
167C — Coaxial Cable Assembly
Finally, IPC EDGE offers other video training categories at IPC EDGE including the list below:
- Electronics Assembly Inspection
- ESD Fundamentals
- Hand Soldering and Rework — PTH and SMT
- Intro to Electronics Assembly (Pre-Employment Training)
- Training & Reference Guides
