Printed Circuit Board Fabrication Compliance: ISO 9001:2015 

If you are new to printed circuit board layout design and fabrication, you should be aware of one quality standard in the industry: ISO 9001:2015. That is the latest iteration of the ISO 9001 quality standard, published by ISO (the International Organization for Standardization).

ISO 9001 does not explicitly relate to one industry, but it is extremely common in manufacturing, including printed circuit board fabrication. The reason for its existence is to set a benchmark for standards that cover on making sure a company has solid, repeatable processes in place that:

• Ensure we meet the customer’s and regulatory requirements 

• Improve customer satisfaction levels

• Continually improve operational efficiencies

• Manage design inputs and outputs clearly

• Review, verify, and validate

• Maintain change records

• Ensure that design changes are reviewed and controlled

PCB Design Services & ISO 9001

If a printed circuit board fabrication service provider states that it is ISO 9001:2015 certified, this means that a third-party auditor has assessed it and verified that a wide range of its processes, from quotation to PCB design services and even delivery, have been standardized and documented, with systems put in place to ensure continuous improvement in all related areas.

Printed Circuit Board Design Software

Many ISO-certified PCB manufacturing companies use ‘Product Lifecycle Management’ to manage projects, procurement, and documentation. Printed circuit board design software, such as Altium and Cadence, can integrate with these systems, thereby helping PCB manufacturers to:

• Automate approvals

• Track production cycles across departments

That demonstrated proficiency to ISO auditors because it shows a high level of control and accountability at every step. The relationship between ISO 9001:2015 certification and printed circuit board design software is clear, supporting key activities including:

• Full traceability

• Iteration management

• Procedural documentation

• Data integrity

• Integration across the product lifecycle

Why You Should Only Partner with Fully ISO-Certified PCB Manufacturers

When PCB manufacturers in the U.S. state that they are ISO 9001:2015 certified, it's a sign that they take processes very seriously. While ISO 9001 certification does not guarantee production quality, it does highlight a PCB manufacturer's willingness to work towards perfection wherever possible. In the unfortunate event that something goes wrong, they have systems in place to address and rectify the issue.

ISO Certification matters because it demonstrates:

Trust and consistency—the printed circuit boards that you order are more likely to be built to spec on time with few defects.

Traceability—Detailed documentation at all stages, along with carefully managed process control, allows you to trace problems back to their source and then correct them promptly.

Compliance—Many industries, including aerospace, medical, and automotive, require ISO certification, and if your boards can demonstrate this, your products are likely to appeal to a wider market.

Credibility—Dedication to professionalism can clearly help win contracts, especially with larger / international clients. It can be amazing how many doors can be opened once you have that little logo of approval.