Analog Test Technology: Challenges Abound

When the author began his career as an analog test engineer in the semiconductor industry, testing was considered an annoying necessity. Today, test and assembly is the largest cost factor of a device, so it receives more attention, but is still a controversial subject. The author have encountered customers that feel some parameter testing takes too long, so they ignore the test altogether, even if required by standards committees, until they are hit with lawsuits and/or zero yield problems.