This category explores structured engineering approaches used to troubleshoot, localize, and interpret complex failures. Topics include fault isolation strategies, analytical workflows, correlation of electrical and physical data, and best practices for avoiding false conclusions during investigations.
Failure analysis often begins with urgency: a failed part, a missed shipment, or pressure to identify fault quickly. In that environment, it’s tempting to move directly into testing or teardown. However, starting without a defined analysis plan frequently leads to wasted samples, inconclusive results, or misleading conclusions. A well-designed failure analysis plan aligns objectives, techniques, …
When investigating a suspect integrated circuit (IC), one of the first questions engineers face is whether to begin with electrical testing or physical analysis. Choosing the wrong starting point can waste time, consume limited samples, or obscure the true failure mechanism. Understanding the strengths and limitations of each approach helps ensure the investigation produces clear, …