Using plastic-encapsulated microcircuits in high reliability applications

This paper describes technical and management aspects of using plastic-encapsulated microcircuits (PEM's) in applications in which military, hermetic microcircuits have traditionally been required. In order to implement the use of PEM's in such applications, it is necessary to re-evaluate the entire system of qualifying, procuring, using, and ensuring reliability of parts, and of the products in which they are used. Technically, the disciplines of reliability, accelerated testing, design of experiments, and physics of failure must be used as a comprehensive set of tools to implement and manage the use of PEM's. Finally, an effective and efficient system for collecting and analyzing data must be set up to provide information for rational decision-making.<>