Failure analysis overview and its new challenges

Failure analysis is a critical step for solving design, process, product and customer application issues. Failure analysts need to have strong and broad technical background as well as unique personality to be successful in this field. Failure analysis flow contains 8 basic steps, and should be followed to ensure the quality of the daily analysis work. Three case studies were demonstrated on how to use the 8-step FA flow to solve real life problems. With new technology, device materials and architecture in advanced products, new challenges need to be met in order to successfully support the failure analysis needs in the coming years.