Reliability Matters is a podcast on the subject of reliability of circuit assemblies. Reliability "best practices" and success stories are discussed. This podcast features interviews with experts in the electronic assembly industry. All electronic production segments which effect product reliability are on the table. This includes contamination, coating, cleanliness assessment, inspection, building for harsh environments, reflow, printing, failure analysis, board fabrication, and much more. Your Host: Mike Konrad began his career in the electronic assembly equipment industry in 1985. Mike founded Aqueous Technologies in 1992 in response to the Montreal Protocol and the resulting international treaty banning most popular cleaning/defluxing solvents. Mike is an internationally known speaker on the subject of increasing reliability through contamination removal and cleanliness quantification techniques and procedures. Mike was awarded “Distinguish Speaker Status” with SMTA in 2018 and received the “Rich Freiberger Best of Conference Award” in 2019. Mike is a member of the SMTA Global Board of Directors where he is Vice President of Communications. Mike is also Vice President of Technical Programs for the Los Angeles / Orange County SMTA Chapter. Visit the Reliability Matters Podcast Website: https://www.reliabilitymatterspodcast.com
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August 11, 202616 min
Good Adhesive, Bad Bond: David Dworak on the Hidden Causes of Adhesion Failure - Episode 199
Adhesive failures can be frustrating because the problem isn’t always obvious. The adhesive may have been properly selected, the part may look clean, and the process may seem under control. But weeks or months later, a coating lifts, an encapsulant separates, or a bond fails in the field.So what went wrong?In this episode of Reliability Matters I’m joined by David Dworak, Material Scientist at Dymax, to discuss the science behind reliable adhesion in electronics manufacturing.We’ll talk about why adhesive bonding is about much more than choosing the right material. David explains the role of adhesive chemistry, surface energy, wetting, contact angle measurement, surface preparation, plasma treatment, and why even a visually clean surface may not be ready for bonding.We’ll also explore how manufacturers can troubleshoot adhesion failures, control their bonding process, and gather objective evidence that a surface is truly ready for adhesive application.If your process involves conformal coatings, encapsulants, underfills, component bonding, or any adhesive used in electronics assembly, this conversation will help you better understand what really makes a bond reliable.Dymaxhttps://dymax.com“The Principals of Adhesion: Understanding Adhesive Chemistry, Application and Surface Science for Optimal Bonding Performance.”https://circuitsassembly.com/ca/editorial/menu-features/43078-the-principals-of-adhesion-understanding-adhesive-chemistry-application-and-surface-science-for-optimal-bonding-performance.html
July 21, 20261 hr 9 min
Why Your Al Training Isn't Sticking: Sean Patterson on Making Al Useful in Manufacturing - Ep. 198
Artificial intelligence is everywhere right now. It’s in the headlines, it’s being built into software tools, and it’s showing up in more and more conversations about engineering, manufacturing, quality, and process improvement.But here’s the problem.A company can buy the software. A team can attend the training. Everyone can walk away impressed by what AI might be able to do. And then, a few weeks later, very little actually changes. The tool is still there. The potential is still there. But the habits never formed.And that matters directly to reliability.In electronics manufacturing, reliability doesn’t come from good intentions. It comes from repeatable processes, disciplined execution, clear documentation, good decision-making, and the ability to recognize problems before they become failures in the field.That’s where AI can become more than just another interesting tool. Used properly, AI may be able to enhance workflows such as:• Reviewing ECOs and identifying downstream process, documentation, material, or inspection impacts• Analyzing AOI, SPI, test, and process data to detect recurring defect patterns• Supporting root cause analysis by organizing failure data, inspection results, and corrective action history• Monitoring process drift in areas such as reflow, cleaning, stencil printing, placement, and environmental conditions• Assisting with corrective action reports, customer responses, and internal documentation• Capturing tribal knowledge from meetings, shift reports, troubleshooting notes, and past problem-solving activityThose are all reliability-related activities. They touch the way products are designed, built, inspected, documented, corrected, and improved. But AI only helps if it becomes part of the way work actually gets done.My guest today is Sean Patterson, author of the printed circuit design and fabrication article, “Why Your AI Training Isn’t Sticking.” Sean argues that AI adoption is not really a training problem. It’s a habit problem. In other words, the goal isn’t simply to teach people what AI can do. The goal is to connect AI to the work people are already doing, such as preparing for meetings, reviewing engineering change orders, working through technical questions, or organizing complex problems.For those of us focused on reliability, that distinction is important. AI doesn’t replace engineering judgment, process knowledge, or verification. But when used properly, it may help strengthen the behaviors that support reliability: asking better questions, capturing knowledge, reducing overlooked details, and improving the consistency of technical decision-making.So today, we’re going to talk with Sean about why AI training often fails to stick, how small triggers can turn occasional use into practical habits, where AI can fit into engineering and manufacturing workflows, and how companies can approach AI in a way that is useful, responsible, and directly connected to reliability.CrossGen AIhttps://crossgen-ai.comWhy Your AI Training Isn’t Stickinghttps://circuitsassembly.com/ca/editorial/menu-features/43156-why-your-ai-training-isn-t-sticking.html
July 7, 20261 hr 0 min
Closing the Gap Between Validation and Reality with Dr. Nishith Kumar Reddy Gorla - Episode 197
What if passing the test is not enough?In reliability engineering, we often place a great deal of confidence in laboratory validation. We test, measure, analyze, and document. And when the product passes, we naturally assume it is ready for the field.But what happens when a product passes the lab test and still fails in the hands of the customer?Today, we are going to explore the gap between laboratory reliability testing and actual field performance. It is a gap that can be costly, frustrating, and sometimes difficult to explain. Products can perform well under controlled test conditions, yet still experience unexpected failures when exposed to real users, real environments, real service conditions, and real-world variability.My guest today is Dr. Nishith Kumar Reddy Gorla of CORE ITS LLC. Dr. Gorla’s work focuses on system-level reliability testing, field reliability alignment, reliability growth, and test-to-field correlation for complex products.His recent paper, “System-Level Test Case Design for Field Reliability Alignment in Complex Products,” looks at why traditional reliability test methods may miss important field failure modes. More importantly, it proposes a broader approach to test case design that considers not just the product design, but also actual use conditions, field failure data, end-user behavior, service procedures, manufacturing variation, consumables, and product interfaces.This is an important conversation because reliability is not simply about passing a test. It is about understanding how a product behaves in the real world, where variables interact, users behave unpredictably, environments change, and failure mechanisms may not appear until the system is challenged in realistic ways.If you design, build, test, specify, or depend on complex products, this discussion should be especially relevant. Today, we will talk about why products sometimes pass in the lab but fail in the field, how better system-level test cases can improve field correlation, and what reliability professionals can do to create test methods that more accurately reflect real-world performance.Dr. Gorla's Article:https://www.reliabilitymatterspodcast.com/article-1-gorla
June 23, 202647 min
If We Don't Shape Al, Al Will Shape Us - Dr. James Maisiri on Responsible Technology Adoption # 196
Today, we’re going to explore a topic that seems to be touching nearly every industry, every workplace, and increasingly every part of our daily lives: artificial intelligence.But this conversation is not just about what AI can do. It’s about what AI assumes, what it values, what it misses, and what happens when powerful technologies are deployed into environments they were not designed to understand.My guest today is Dr. James Maisiri, an AI researcher and writer whose work focuses on responsible AI, digital transformation, education, labor markets, and the societal impact of emerging technologies. His work has been featured through organizations and publications including UNESCO, Mail & Guardian, and others, and his message is both simple and profound: AI is not neutral.In one of his 3 TEDx talks, Dr. Maisiri said, ‘If Africa does not shape AI, then AI will shape Africa. While his work often focuses on African communities and institutions, the lesson is much broader. Every industry, including electronics manufacturing, needs to think carefully about how we adopt AI, what assumptions are built into these systems, and how we validate their use before trusting their output.In electronics reliability, we often say that context matters. Materials, environments, residues, humidity, temperature, field conditions, and use cases all influence performance. Today, we’ll ask whether the same is true for AI.I’m not really sure how much of this conversation will tie in directly to reliability, but it’s a fascinating subject nonetheless. Let’s see where it takes us.The hidden danger of AI in Africa | James Maisiri | TEDxUniversity of Johannesburghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1BVZvjLevQHow AI and Robotics Reconnects Us to Humanityhttps://www.ted.com/talks/james_maisiri_how_ai_and_robotics_reconnects_us_to_humanityLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-james-maisiri-7b8069281/
June 9, 202611 min
The Return of Cleaning: Why Post-Reflow Cleaning Is Becoming Mainstream Again (Part 2) - Episode 194
This is part two of a two-part series.In Part One, we explored how the electronics industry transitioned from a clean-everything approach to one where cleaning became optional. But what happens when the assumptions behind “no-clean” collide with modern electronics design?In this episode of Reliability Matters, Mike Konrad examines how the definition of cleanliness has fundamentally changed.As assemblies became smaller, denser, and increasingly deployed into harsh environments, the industry discovered that historical cleanliness standards were no longer sufficient to predict real-world reliability. Modern low stand-off components like QFNs, BGAs, and CSPs create tight geometries where residues can become trapped and difficult to remove, while thermal cycling and internal condensation can create localized harsh environments inside the product itself.This episode explores:• Why IPC moved away from fixed cleanliness limits• The growing importance of SIR and ROSE testing• Why “cleanliness” is now tied to risk, not a number• How internal condensation can trigger electrochemical migration• Why no-clean flux has become the most commonly cleaned flux type in the industry• The return of cleaning as a mainstream reliability process• Why modern assemblies require aggressive spray-in-air cleaning technologies instead of historical immersion-based vapor degreasing methods• How diffused spray patterns improve cleaning beneath low stand-off componentsMike also explains how modern cleaning challenges are no longer just about chemistry. They are about physics, fluid delivery, and whether the cleaning process can physically reach contamination hidden beneath today’s densely packed components.As electronics continue to shrink and reliability expectations continue to rise, one question becomes increasingly important: Clean enough for what?If you work in electronics manufacturing, reliability engineering, process engineering, or quality assurance, this episode provides a detailed look at why post-reflow cleaning has once again become a critical part of modern electronics manufacturing.
May 26, 202613 min
The Return of Cleaning: Why Post-Reflow Cleaning Is Becoming Mainstream Again - Episode 193
This is the first of a two part series.For decades, cleaning circuit assemblies after soldering was not optional. It was standard practice across the electronics manufacturing industry. Then, almost overnight, that changed.In this episode of Reliability Matters, Mike Konrad takes you back to the origins of that shift. From the widespread use of CFC-based cleaning solvents to the global impact of the Montreal Protocol, this episode explains how environmental regulation led to the rapid adoption of no-clean flux and the removal of cleaning as a standard process step. But that decision came with assumptions.Assumptions based on larger components, wider spacing, and assemblies that were far more tolerant of residues than what we see today.As electronics evolved, so did the risk.Miniaturization, increased component density, and the expansion of electronics into harsh environments have dramatically reduced the tolerance for contamination. And when cleaning was removed, it wasn’t just flux that remained. It was the totality of residues introduced throughout the manufacturing process.This episode walks through how those residues, combined with moisture and electrical bias, can lead to electrochemical migration, including parasitic leakage and dendritic growth, often resulting in delayed or intermittent failures.This is the story of how we got here.In Part 2, we bring this discussion into the present.What does “clean” actually mean today? Why did the industry move away from fixed cleanliness limits? And why is cleaning once again becoming a critical part of modern electronics manufacturing?If you’ve ever asked the question, “Do I really need to clean?” Part 2 will challenge how you think about the answer.
May 9, 202639 min
Why PCB Revision Errors Are a Hidden Reliability Risk With Mehdi Nahali - Episode 192
Today, we’re going to explore a topic that doesn’t always get the attention it deserves, but has a direct impact on product quality and long-term reliability.I’m joined by Mehdi Nahali, founder of PCB Revision Control PRO. His platform is designed to replace spreadsheets, emails, and disconnected systems with a centralized approach to PCB revision lifecycle management and factory intelligence. We’re going to talk about how revision control, data integrity, and process discipline impact reliability, and where manufacturers are still getting it wrong.PCB Revision Control Prohttps://www.pcbrevisionpro.com
April 24, 20261 hr 0 min
Why Maintenance Is Finally Getting a Seat at the Table With Limble's Paul Ross - Episode 191
Today’s episode is going to resonate with anyone responsible for uptime, efficiency, and ultimately, product reliability. Because whether we’re talking about circuit assemblies, manufacturing lines, or entire facilities, reliability doesn’t start at inspection. It starts with maintenance.My guest today is Paul Ross, Chief Marketing Officer at Limble, a company providing modern maintenance and asset management solutions to thousands of organizations worldwide. With more than 25 years of experience in enterprise and high-growth software companies, Paul has spent his career helping organizations leverage data, systems, and strategy to improve performance.Today, we’re going to explore how maintenance has evolved from a reactive necessity to a strategic driver of reliability, what companies are still getting wrong, and how modern tools are changing the game.Limble:https://limble.com
April 14, 202659 min
Predict, Prevent, Produce: RoviSys' Bryan DeBois on Manufacturing's Al Future Episode 190
What if your factory could predict failures before they happen, capture decades of human expertise, and make better decisions than ever before—without replacing the people who run it?Today’s guest sits right at the intersection of innovation and industry. Bryan DeBois, Director of Industrial AI at RoviSys, is helping reshape what manufacturing looks like in the age of intelligent machines.From predictive analytics that catch problems before they happen, to data-driven systems that optimize production in real time, Bryan’s work is transforming how factories think, learn, and produce. But this isn’t about replacing people, it’s about amplifying human expertise and capturing decades of industrial knowledge before it disappears.In this episode, we’ll explore how smart factories are changing the game, what it really takes to begin a digital transformation, and why trust and transparency are just as critical as algorithms and code.What stands out most is Bryan’s ability to make advanced technology practical. He’s not talking about theory, he’s helping real manufacturers integrate AI in ways that improve safety, efficiency, and sustainability.I speak with Bryan about how artificial intelligence is redefining manufacturing, the challenges of digital transformation, and the future of smart factories.RoviSyshttps://www.rovisys.com
March 24, 202641 min
From the Factory Floor to System Design: Why Women in STEM Matter with Kristen Eckart - Episode 189
When we talk about reliability, we usually focus on materials, processes, test methods, and standards. But what if one of the most overlooked reliability risks is who is not at the table when engineering decisions are made?Today’s episode focuses on women in STEM, Science technology engineering and mathematics, and why this conversation extends far beyond mere representation. It impacts how problems are defined, how risks are identified, and how resilient our technologies ultimately become. My guest is Kristen Eckart, an accomplished engineer whose career includes working in high-reliability environments at Lockheed Martin.While Kristen’s background includes complex systems where failure is not an option, this conversation is not about any specific product or program. Instead, it is about the broader experience of women in engineering, the barriers that still exist, and why attracting and retaining women in STEM is essential to the future of technology and manufacturing.For those of you working in electronics manufacturing, quality, reliability, or engineering leadership, this discussion connects directly to how teams make better decisions, reduce risk, and design systems that perform reliably in the real world.This is a conversation about engineering excellence, opportunity, and why who we include ultimately matters.
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