Does anybody have any idea if there is a specified rentention time for PWB (printed wiring board) test coupons?

1) Does anybody actually keep them?
2) Do you deliver them to your customer instead?
3) Do you end up disposing of them?
4) Do you keep them forever (so far)?

I did some digging into this and I've found nothing except IPC test patterns for coupons and the old Mil-55110 requirement.

Any input on this matter would be appreciated.

Does anybody have any idea if there is a specified rentention time for PWB (printed wiring board) test coupons?

1) Does anybody actually keep them?
2) Do you deliver them to your customer instead?
3) Do you end up disposing of them?
4) Do you keep them forever (so far)?

I did some digging into this and I've found nothing except IPC test patterns for coupons and the old Mil-55110 requirement.

Any input on this matter would be appreciated.

I've been away from electronics manufacturing for a while, but I know that it's generally a matter of customer requirements and pragmatism. Since the market for circuit boards ranges from cheap radios to mission-critical aerospace components, customer requirements vary from we-don't-care to very specific time periods. In the absence of customer requirements, you can base your decisions on history; if retained coupons have proven useful in the past, let that be your guide.

In the absence of customer requirements, you can base your decisions on history; if retained coupons have proven useful in the past, let that be your guide.

In my 20+ years in the industry, I have NEVER had a customer comeback and request coupons or even inquire about them. That's probably why I am curious as to whether there was any industry standard or general consensus on this. I'll have to pull a few old purchase orders to see if there is any retention call out, if not, out they go. (And yes, they will be disposed of using our environmentally-friendly lead-handling methods.)

RCW

1) Does anybody actually keep them?
YES - but we try not to.
2) Do you deliver them to your customer instead?
3) Do you end up disposing of them?
4) Do you keep them forever (so far)?
2 thru 4 as stated before it all depend on your contract.

Usually only aerospace and military require coupons, we to contract manufacturing for a number of customer types. We try to have the PCB house hold the sample with there records or pass them on to the customer. If we have to hold them, we have to determine time limits first and them go by what was agreed on.

And in the past two years we have had two customer ask for the coupons.

:2cents: