0 ppm means: 0 faulty parts per million components delivered - an established quality benchmark in the automotive and electronics industry. For our customers, this means: maximum process reliability in series production and field operation, no risk of failure and no complaint costs.

In safety- and function-critical applications (e.g. automotive, wireless, telecommunications, sensors, industrial electronics, medical technology, etc.), even individual failures lead to high follow-up costs, loss of image and complex complaints processes. Our consistent 0 ppm approach shifts quality from "finding faults" to "systematically preventing faults under all circumstances"

Our understanding of quality follows the principle of TOTAL QUALITY CONTROL (TQC): Quality is not "tested" at the end by an AQL test, but is designed and assured throughout the entire product life cycle. This includes the entire chain from the quartz tube bar to the design and manufacture of the resonators and oscillators, right through to the final 100% test directly before taping or delivery.

Instead of relying on statistical random samples with an accepted error rate (AQL), we combine optimum process control with end-to-end 100% testing. This means that every single component is checked to ensure that it fulfils the specified requirements for electrical parameters, stability and reliability.

The basis for the oscillating crystals and quartz oscillators that we supply is our own quartz blank production, in which the quartz blanks are manufactured from raw material exactly according to defined specifications. This allows us to control and guarantee full control over material quality, geometry, process parameters, surface purity and metallisation of the electrode - key parameters for resonator performance.

Our exclusive LRT quartz resonators (Low ESR Resonator Technology) are based exclusively on these self-manufactured quartz blanks, which are optimised for low series resistance, high stability and low ageing. This enables reproducible performance from delivery batch to delivery batch and forms the basis for the robust series quality of our customer assemblies.

Our exclusive LRT quartz resonators are specially designed to minimise the effective series resistance (ESR) while ensuring high frequency stability. A low ESR supports a very safe and very fast transient behaviour, reduces losses in the resonant circuit and the power requirement of the circuit and thus contributes directly to the robustness and reliability of the system.

During the production of the quartz oscillators that we supply, the central core processes are safeguarded internally in order to enable seamless quality control down to the last detail. This includes both the integration of the LRT quartz resonators and the setting and bonding of the ICs in the respective housing formats.

• For oscillators up to 2.5 × 2.0 mm, the ICs are set and bonded in separate processes so that the process parameters (e.g. bonding force, temperature profiles, etc.) can be precisely controlled and monitored.
• For oscillators from 2.0 × 1.6 mm and smaller, ICs based on flip-chip technology are used, in which the ICs are placed directly on the substrate, combined with the in-house manufactured LRT resonators.

Both approaches allow compact designs with high mechanical robustness and reproducible electrical performance. By manufacturing these core steps, we can also react more quickly to design requirements, among other things.

It is standard practice in the industry to carry out final inspections using AQL random samples, where a certain defect rate is statistically tolerated. However, based on our understanding of quality, this AQL approach is not sufficient for our products, as it allows for defects in the population as long as they are "within the scope" of the AQL specification.

Our approach therefore relies on multiple 100% tests along the production chain, including a final 100% test directly before taping. In these tests, the electrical characteristics, functional behaviour and relevant specification parameters of each individual component are checked before it enters the delivery process = absolute product safety for our customers.

For developers in series projects, this approach means

• Consistent electrical performance: Tightly controlled key processes (own LRT quartz blanks, controlled IC integration, etc.) ensure very stable parameters across the entire production and delivery lots.
• Robust series performance and service life: Multiple 100% tests support our 0ppm strategy, which enables optimum reliability of customer assemblies.
• Specification reliability: The defined process control and end-of-line validation ensures that the specifications planned in the design are achieved and maintained in real use. From delivery batch to delivery batch.

This results in absolutely consistent electrical performance, high robustness, series performance and service life for the user of our clock generators, which also has a positive impact on development times and lifecycle costs. At the same time, the ability to plan for validation, qualification and series release is increased.

For purchasing and quality managers in the industry, there are additional, economically relevant advantages:

• Zero-risk strategy for production: Thanks to stable processes, in-house core production and 100% final testing, there is no risk of unexpected failures in series production.
• No complaint and follow-up costs: As there is no AQL-based "factoring in" of faults, but consistent fault avoidance through multiple 100% tests, this results in no follow-up costs for complaints, rework and field actions.
• High delivery reliability: The in-house manufactured quartz resonators used in our SMD oscillating crystals and oscillators enable an absolutely secure supply chain for our customers and contribute to stable delivery times.
• Long-term traceability and process control: Documented production and test steps enable detailed traceability over many years, which is crucial for audits and certifications.

This transforms our cycle generator from a "simple component" into a risk-free, strategic component in the supply chain that positively supports the overall quality of the end product and offers long-term cost efficiency.

The process and quality chain described above results in a clear, practice-orientated quality promise:

• We only use our own LRT-based quartz resonators, which are optimised for low ESR and high stability, to manufacture our oscillating crystals and oscillators.
• The quality and production departments retain full control over all critical steps, from the raw quartz material to resonator and oscillator production and end-of-line testing.
• Depending on the size of the housing, the ICs are either conventionally bonded or integrated using flip-chip technology - always in combination with in-house manufactured LRT resonators and controlled processes.
• Only 100% tested clock generators are supplied; there is no AQL tolerance with accepted error rates

For us, 0 ppm is not just a theoretical figure, but a practised quality approach that maximises the safety of your products in development, production and field operation.

Rely on our products and benefit from quality, innovation and partnership at the highest level!

>>> Back to the FAQs <<<