Product / Process Change Notification Method in Automotive Electronics (Guideline)

To keep pace with innovation cycles, quality requirements and enormous price pressure, product and process changes (PCNs) are unavoidable.

Changes to electronic components (active and passive components) may become necessary for a wide variety of reasons. Some may, for example, be development-related, whilst others may be due to quality or logistical reasons.

In accordance with internationally agreed standards, changes to electronic components must be qualified by the manufacturer, reported and often approved by the customer. Unfortunately, the PCN process is often very time-consuming and takes many months or even years. The reasons for this are:

1. The content of the PCN is either incomplete or unclear, leading to delays.
2. The description of the change information may be difficult to understand and/or the format used may lead to misunderstandings.
3. Without additional guidance on device replacement, it is unclear what impact the change might have on functionality or reliability.

To speed up the approval process, the ‘PCN Methodology’ working group proposes improving communication between the second tier (component manufacturers) and the first tier (electronic control unit manufacturers).

• A standardised information set for change notifications from the second to the first level (PCN form) has been developed, which contains information on possible impacts.
• Based on the qualification matrix developed and successfully used during the transition to lead-free products, the ZVEI group has created a Delta Qualification Matrix (DeQuMa) covering typical changes in passive components, integrated circuits, discrete semiconductors, LEDs and MCMs. This matrix specifies the tests to be taken into account when assessing the technical impact of device changes in the application.

The entire process, as well as the use of the “PCN form” and the “DeQuMa”, are described in the ZVEI guideline “Guidance on Customer Notifications regarding Product and/or Process Changes (PCN) for Electronic Components in Automotive Applications".