Total Quality Commitment Vishay Sprague Tantalum Capacitors ’’We are dedicated to partnership with our customers...assuring continuously improved quality of the products and services we offer..." About the manufacture of tantalum capacitors at Vishay Sprague... Attention to customer requirements — to your requirements — keeps us on the leading edge of the quality revolution. We maintain total quality commitments throughout our operations. The scope of our Quality System encompasses: 1. Product and Materials Development 2. Process Control expect our suppliers to be dedicated to the improvement of quality of our incoming materials, taking rigorous action to investigate and correct non-conformance whenever required. Our suppliers are considered extensions of our tantalum processes. PROCESS CONTROL Vishay Sprague ships millions of tantalum capacitors each month for aerospace and defense electronics, for computers and communications as well as for a virtually unlimited range of high-performance military, industrial and commercial equipment. We are dedicated to defect preventionin all aspects of design and manufacturing. Rigorous action is taken to investigate the root cause of non-conformances and/or variation and to correct such situations. 3. Training 4. Outgoing Quality Improvement Vishay Sprague is committed to the use of statistical techniques to reduce variation, independent of specification limit. This is one of the tools used to improve performance. 5. Customer Partnerships 6. Ship-To-Stock Programs 7. Our Quality System is Registered to ISO/QS 9000 We perform a thorough analysis of critical process elements using statistical methods at key points. More and more process steps are being automated to assure consistency in manufacturing and conformance to design specifications. PRODUCT AND MATERIALS DEVELOPMENT TRAINING The work in our research and development facilities is focused on new materials and designs. Our scientists and engineers are recognized for their experience in this technology. Vishay Sprague, a pioneer in the field of tantalum capacitors, has introduced many important advances over the years. A disciplined procedures approach is an essential part of our quality improvement program. This requires a commitment to provide all personnel with the skills and tools necessary to produce quality at the source. Employees are trained in company philosophy, statistical process control, capability studies, application of procedures and equipment operation. SUPPLIER PARTNERSHIPS We are continuously working with suppliers to assure a thorough understanding of our quality requirements and the use of statistical methods as a tool for process control. We www.vishay.com 4 Our training includes the analysis of statistical data from our processes to help us understand and control variations. As we train our operators in SPC and automate our processes, the rate of quality improvement accelerates accordingly. For technical questions, contact: [email protected] Document Number: 40036 Revision: 21-Jul-06 Total Quality Commitment Tantalum Capacitors Vishay Sprague PROCESS FLOW CHARTS These charts identify basic manufacturing processes including the quality control points, where inspection is performed and SPC is used. PROCESS FLOW CHART MATERIALS Molded Chip Solid Tantalum Capacitors PROCESS Tantalum Powder & Wire Pellet Pressing Pellet Weight Pellet Dimensions Sintering Temperature Time Inspection Electrical Characteristics (CAP, DF, DCL) S. S. Bars Bar Weld Lead Length Weld Strength Electrolytes Dielectric Formation Process Parameters (Temperature, Voltage, Current, Conductivity, Time) Electrolytes, MnO2 Cathode Layers Deposition Process Parameters (Specific gravity, Temperature, Time, Oven Profile) Silver Paste Silver Coating Viscosity Curing Temperature Curing Duration Inspection Electrical Characteristics (CAP, DF, DCL, ESR); Pellet Dimensions CONTROL CHARACTERISTICS Epoxy Drop Weight Quality of Cathode Attachment Quality of Anode Attachment Lead Frame, Silver Epoxy Assembly (Anode/Cathode Attachment) Epoxy Resin Molding White Ink Marking Legibility Ink Permanency Capacitance Match Temperature Cycling Temperature Forming of Termination Dimensions Reflow Oven Profile Final Electrical Testing and Reeling Electrical Characteristics (CAP, DF, DCL, ESR); Peel Strength Quality Control Inspection Final Inspection (Electrical, Visual, Solderability, Taping Quality); Labels Carrier and Cover Tapes Document Number: 40036 Revision: 21-Jul-06 For technical questions, contact: [email protected] Molding Parameters (Temperature, Speed, Pressure) www.vishay.com 5 Total Quality Commitment Vishay Sprague Tantalum Capacitors PROCESS FLOW CHART MATERIALS Conformal Coated Solid Tantalum Capacitors PROCESS Tantalum Powder & Wire Pellet Pressing Pellet Weight Pellet Dimensions Sintering Temperature Time Inspection Electrical Characteristics (CAP, DF, DCL) S. S. Bars Bar Weld Lead Length Weld Strength Electrolytes Dielectric Formation Process Parameters (Temperature, Voltage, Current, Conductivity, Time) Electrolytes, MnO2 Cathode Layers Deposition Process Parameters (Specific gravity, Temperature, Time, Oven Profile) Silver Paste Silver Coating Viscosity Curing Temperature Curing Duration Inspection Electrical Characteristics (CAP, DF, DCL, ESR); Capacitor Dimensions Electrically Conductive Silver Paste First Cathode Seal Viscosity Orange Epoxy Coating Powder Encapsulation Curing Temperature Coating Thickness Silver Epoxy Cathode Application Anode Application Viscosity Dimensions Thermal Cycling Temperature Cutting Pellets From Bar Dimensions (Length) Electrolytes Electrolytic Plating Plating Thickness Carrier and Cover Tapes Electrical Testing and Reeling Electrical Characteristics (CAP, DF, DCL, ESR); Peel Strength Quality Control Inspection www.vishay.com 6 For technical questions, contact: [email protected] CONTROL CHARACTERISTICS Final Inspection (Electrical, Visual, Solderability, Taping Quality); Labels Document Number: 40036 Revision: 21-Jul-06 Total Quality Commitment Tantalum Capacitors Vishay Sprague PARTS PER MILLION (PPM) PROGRAMS SHIPPING CONTAINER ID The collection of quality data and reporting of outgoing quality in PPM is not new to Vishay Sprague. In fact, Vishay Sprague provided leadership for the committee developing the EIA Standard for PPM measurement. And long before reporting outgoing quality in "Parts Per Million" was fashionable, Vishay Sprague had defined a program, was collecting data and reporting internally to assure quality improvement. We identify each container to assure that material proceeds directly to your stockroom and is not inspected when received. Vishay Sprague is responsible for its quality. PPM performance, by product, is calculated by Quality Assurance from end-of-the-line electrical performance data. These data include all variations, whether minor or catastrophic, from internal standards that are stricter than those used by our customers. The result is that our customers' measurement of as-received quality in PPM is always more favorable than our own measurement. SHIP TO STOCK VISHAY SPRAGUE INSP. BY DATE Today, not all suppliers are using a standard method of PPM calculation. Consequently, when comparing reported PPM levels, it is essential that the method of calculation be understood. For example, calculations that include only catastrophic failures may produce very low reported PPM levels. CUSTOMER PARTNERSHIPS We are currently involved with many major Ship-to-Stock programs. These programs rely on our history of providing materials that meet customer quality expectations, are delivered on time and at competitive prices. VISHAY SPRAGUE TANTALUMS SET NEW WORLD STANDARDS This history, plus our proven dedication to continuous quality improvement and the use of statistical techniques to identify and reduce variation in our processes, provides customer confidence to eliminate incoming inspection, thereby reducing costs. An extended family of Vishay Sprague solid tantalum chip capacitors sets new world performance standards! Vishay Sprague chips feature: extended ratings in conformal-coated and molded case lines; the highest capacitance in the smallest chip size; a fused chip and the highest temperature capability in the industry. Our partnership also extends to in-depth applications engineering support. Our engineers work with customers to review their designs and in the selection of the most appropriate Vishay Sprague tantalum capacitors. Extended ratings permit designers to specify smaller case codes -producing significant cost savings! SHIP-TO-STOCK PROGRAMS Vishay Sprague provides a program for those customers who may not have identified their own Ship-to-Stock program. This program may be modified to suit specific needs. TANTAMOUNT® conformal-coated chips offer the highest capacitance in the smallest case codes. TANTAMOUNT® molded-case tantalum chips conform to EIA 535BAAC. Type 293D extended ratings replace standard values with smaller case codes. Resistance to solder heat is specified at + 260 °C for 10 seconds. CWR06 and CWR11 chips meet MIL-C-55365. Vishay Sprague tantalum chips are supplied taped and reeled to EIA-481 and IEC 286-3. QUARTERLY PPM REPORTS These reports express outgoing quality of each product type purchased and may be used for monitoring quality improvement. Document Number: 40036 Revision: 21-Jul-06 For technical questions, contact: [email protected] www.vishay.com 7