In the realm of manufacturing, particularly in the electronics sector, the early detection of defective components is crucial for maintaining product quality and minimizing financial losses.

This blog delves into a case study highlighting the effectiveness of Cybord Aquila, a Visual AI platform, in identifying potential failures in electrical components. The case study is based on data from diverse customer lines and proves how Cybord Aquila’s AI based technology uses traditional root cause analysis methods.

Electrical component failure can have significant repercussions, including costly recalls and rework operations. Traditional analysis methods, while effective, often require extensive time and resources. Integrating the Visual AI platform Cybord’s Aquila offers a more efficient and accurate approach to identifying all defective components early in the manufacturing process by inspecting 100% of the electronic components.

Case Study Overview

The case study was conducted to showcase Cybord Aquila’s accuracy indetecting defective components in an SMT (Surface Mount Technology) assembly line. Standard root cause analyses were conducted alongside Cybord Aquila’s findings to validate its accuracy. The case study was conducted in collaboration with the customer, performing recall and rework calculations.

Cybord Aquila was used to detect damaged and contaminated components from the line, preventing the integration of these components into functional boards. The affected components were current limiters manufactured by MPS (MP5087AGG-Z), with a total of 15,000 contaminated component across three reels identified as contaminated.

Methodology

Cybord Aquila’s approach combines advanced visual AI analysis with standard root cause analysis. The platform employs sophisticated algorithms to scrutinize electrical components for any signs of defects, including contamination. This process is not only faster but also more precise compared to traditional methods.

Findings and Results

Cybord found contaminated leads on multiple components (image 1). The lab reports (EDStest and Cross section test) confirmed Cybord Aquila’s findings (image 2).

  1. EDS test: Contaminated leads including Silica and Carbon residuals.
  2. Cross section test: Non-soldered terminals due to contamination

Cybord's case study

The effectiveness of Cybord Aquila was evident in its ability to accurately identify the contaminated components. This prompt action enabled the avoidance of further integration of these defective components into the production line. The financial implications were significant.

Savings Analysis

The savings from using Cybord Aquila was calculated by considering both the rework and recall costs. The savings for rework took into account all expenses incurred in the process for handling suspected boards. In contrast, the recall savings encompassed the costs of recalling and replacing defective boards, including associated logistics and engineering expenses.

  1. Avoided Rework Cost: The immediate identification and removal of the defective components led to an avoidance of rework costs, estimated at $300,000.
  2. Avoided Recall Costs: More importantly, by preventing the integration of these defective components into final products, Cybord Aquila helped avert potential recall costs, which were calculated to be around $1.2 million.

The Impact of Cybord Aquila’s Visual AI in Electrical Component Analysis

This case study underscores the value of integrating advanced technologies like the Cybord Aquila Visual AI platform in electrical component failure analysis. By providing rapid and accurate detection of defective components, Cybord Aquila not only ensures product quality but also offers substantial financial benefits by reducing the likelihood of rework and recalls.

As industries continue to evolve, the adoption of innovative AI driven technologies will be pivotal in maintaining competitive edges and upholding high standards of product reliability and customer satisfaction.

Related Posts

Sourcing funner

An Earthquake Exposed More Than a Supply Chain Risk. It Exposed a Visibility Problem.

The recent Kumamoto earthquake is a reminder that regional disruptions can quickly ripple through the global electronics supply chain—just as the Fukushima disaster did in 2011. Most OEMs have supplier diversification policies and approved alternative vendors. The real question is whether those alternatives are actually being used in production. In one OEM analysis, the Approved Vendor List (AVL) showed a highly diversified sourcing strategy, yet production data revealed that nearly 30% of components were sourced from a single supplier, creating a hidden concentration risk. Supply chain disruptions don't create hidden dependencies—they expose them. Visual AI enables manufacturers to continuously measure supplier concentration from the products they actually build, turning diversification from a policy into a measurable reality.

Who Verifies the Chip That Verifies Everything Else?

Intel and Fortinet are jointly developing Fortinet's next generation security processor, SP6, in part to build a more resilient, diversified supply chain. A security chip is still a chip. Once SP6 leaves the fab, it has to survive the same assembly process as every other component, the process where substitution and counterfeiting actually happen. Standard checks, documentation, batch traceability, sampling, confirm what should be true. Only Visual AI, verifying every component's markings, lot and date code, and country of origin as it's placed, confirms what is true. Cybord has already flagged over 30 major non-AVL substitution events in the first six months of the year. None were counterfeits. All were wrong parts that reached the line undetected by standard inspection. For telecom and datacom OEMs, the question isn't whether SP6 performs. It's whether you can prove the SP6 on the board is the genuine part, at the silicon level, every time.

The Tectonic Shift in Electronic Supply Chain Assurance

DFARS Case 2022-D011 marks a shift from documentation to proof, requiring defense suppliers to verify hardware provenance rather than rely solely on paper records. The new rule secures where PCBs come from, but not what gets assembled onto them, leaving component-level risks such as counterfeits, substitutions, and unauthorized parts largely unaddressed. Traditional inspection tools verify manufacturing quality—not component authenticity. Visual AI adds evidence by analyzing the physical characteristics of every installed component to confirm it matches approved hardware. As provenance requirements continue to expand, manufacturers that can provide image-based proof of authentic, approved hardware will gain both a compliance and competitive advantage

Accessibility Toolbar