Industrial PC Memory Second-Source Qualification
A second memory source was qualified for an embedded industrial PC line following supply instability from the incumbent source, and subsequently carried 40% of total supply share.
Application Overview
An embedded industrial PC product line operating on a fixed production plan.
Project Requirements
The original memory supply had become unstable while the production plan had not, creating a continuity risk for the line.
A qualified second source is required to reproduce the behaviour of the incumbent supply. The qualification standard is therefore more stringent, as downstream processes were established against the original source.
Project Configuration
DDR4 3200 16GB SO-DIMM.
Project configuration as recorded for this programme. Current product availability is listed under Products.
Qualification & Implementation
- Qualification conducted against the target platform rather than a reference board.
- Measured performance compared against the incumbent supply on every delivery.
- Local engineering support established to reduce response time.
Recorded Outcomes
The second source settled at 40% of total supply share and covered 100% of material through the periods when the original source was unstable. On-time delivery held at 99% and the defect rate remained below 0.1%. Procurement cost was reduced by 15% and support response time was halved. The programme recorded a best-supplier ranking in three consecutive years.
Key Engineering Factors
Validation conducted on the target platform, not a reference configuration.
Material supplied through the periods in which the original source was unavailable.
Engineering response established close enough to the programme to halve response time.