International Electrotechnical Commission Quality Assessment System (IECQ)
About Us
About the IECQ
IECQ instils trust by providing confidence of supply chain integrity of Components, Assemblies and Processes.
The IECQ (IEC Quality Assessment System) is a worldwide certification system that covers a wide range of electrotechnical component products, assemblies, associated materials, and manufacturing processes. The system ensures that suppliers who hold an IECQ certification meet relevant IEC/ISO International Standards, other manufacturing specifications, and in some services, global legislation.
IECQ offers industry-specific global certification schemes for specialized services that support environmental sustainability, supply chain management, and manufacturing of component products, thru its IECQ accepted & accredited certification bodies (IECQ-CBs). These certification schemes provide manufacturers and service providers with independent verification that their suppliers comply with component/process specifications and/or IEC/ISO International Standards.
IECQ operates industry-specific global certification schemes that are used across the following markets/areas:
Environmental Services Supporting the Circular Economy
Using the IECQ Approved Process Scheme (Process Certification) for the following environment-focused services:
- Environmentally Conscious Design (Eco-Design) to IEC 62430
- Carbon Footprint of Product Verification, to ISO 14067
- Restricted/Hazardous Substances Process Management (HSPM), to IECQ QC 080000
Specialized Services Supporting Supply Chain Management
Using the IECQ Approved Process Scheme (Process Certification) for delivering specialized services intended to support supply chain management in various industries/sectors:
- Specialized Process, e.g., Specialty Service Providers and Distributors
- Counterfeit Avoidance Programme
- Electrostatic Discharge Control (ESD), to IEC 61340-5-1
- Nuclear Industry Supply Chain, to ISO 19443 (Important to Nuclear Safety)
- Information Security Management, to ISO/IEC 27001 (includes cyber-security)
- IECQ Avionics Parts and Assembly Management, to IEC 62239-1
Specialised Services Supporting the Manufacturing of Component Products
Using the IECQ Approved Component Scheme (Product Certification), which covers Electrotechnical Component Products, Assemblies, and Related Materials for delivering the following manufacturing support services:
- Approved Component Certification
- Automotive Qualification Programme (AQP)
- Capability Certification
- LED Component Products (LED)
- Technology Certification
- IoT Component Certification
To further support the manufacturing of component products, IECQ provides a testing laboratory facility framework called the IECQ ITL Approval Scheme. This allows organisations, including those manufacturers with in-house independent testing facilities, to be approved for component product testing capability in support of the IECQ System.
Our IECQ Independent Testing Laboratory (ITL) approval scheme ensures that any testing facility that supports IECQ approved component certification meets the highest standards for component product testing.
- IECQ Independent Testing Laboratory (ITL) Approval Scheme
The IECQ System ensures global harmonization of the certification process, with a single set of standard operating rules and procedures adopted by all IECQ certification bodies. IECQ certificates issued by all IECQ-CBs are listed on the official IECQ website, making it easy for end users, manufacturers, and service providers to find and confirm certified suppliers.
By using IECQ-certified suppliers, manufacturers and service providers can have confidence that their products meet rigorous quality and environmental standards, giving them a competitive advantage in today's marketplace.
About the Avionics Users Forum
IECQ, the IEC Quality Assessment System for Electronic Components, has run the IECQ aerospace, defense and high performance (ADHP) component management scheme (IECQ ADHP) and the IECQ counterfeit avoidance programme (IECQ AP-CAP) for several years. In 2018, as a complement to the schemes, the IECQ Management Committee (MC) established a discussion forum for the avionics community. The Avionics Users Forum (AUF) is an additional service offering of the IECQ that provides several technical forums dedicated to specific issues pertaining to the avionics industry sector, a result of the cooperation between IECQ and STACK International.
The decision to set up the AUF was made at the IECQ MC meeting in May 2017, in preparation for the transfer of technical committee activities from non-profit subscription-based STACK International, with which IECQ had been cooperating for many years. STACK International, a consortium of defense and aerospace peers “committed to sharing experience, market intelligence, emerging initiatives and best practices to optimize supply chain excellence and mitigate risk”, terminated its operations in December 2017.
The objective is to foster discussion among industry professionals regarding relevant industry standards and audit programs. Its goal is to provide technical assistance, benchmarking activities, and information on emerging technical issues to the user community, ultimately enhancing understanding and clarity of these standards.
In addition, the forum also provides feedback and advice to the IEC Technical Committee (TC) 107: Process management for avionics, and the IECQ ADHP component management scheme. This allows industry experts to offer recommendations and input to improve these committees' standards and audit programs.
AUF does not publish any standards or audit schemes but provides the framework for information exchange between members and may make recommendations and offer standardized wording to other committees..
Members are typically avionics original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and their subcontractors although regulators and air-framers can attend select technical forums pending approval by the AUF.
Forum membership is international and participation from all geographical areas of the globe is actively encouraged to provide a balanced membership. Forums consist of:
Avionics User Forum
AUF General Discussion
IECQ Avionics Users Forum (IECQ AUF) General Discussion forum for all members
Convenor: J.Vann,
As stated above, AUF oversees and manages a series of topic-specific technical forums (TFs) on:
Avionics Technical Forum
- TF 1: Audit programmes
- TF 2: Harmonization standards
- TF 4: Electronic Component Management Plan (ECMP) and Commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) assemblies, including uprating
- TF 5: Lead-free/REACH (TF05)
- TF 6: Anti-counterfeit/obsolescence management
- TF 8: Microcircuits, diodes, transistors and passives
- TF 9: LED lighting
- TF 11: Atmospheric SEE radiation
- TF 12: Mechanical parts
- TF 13: Component Reliability including Semiconductor Wear-out
- TF 14: IECQ Certification Body (IECQ CB) matters [IECQ CB Members only]
The IECQ Avionic Users Forum, Terms of Reference.
About the IEC
The IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) is the world’s leading organization that prepares and publishes globally relevant International Standards for all electric and electronic devices and systems. It brings together 171 countries; 86 are Members (National Committees) and 85 are Affiliates, developing countries that benefit from IEC work without the burden of membership.
Together they represent more than 99% of the world population and world electricity generation. More than 20 000 experts cooperate on the global IEC platform and many more in each member country.
They ensure that products work everywhere safely and efficiently with each other. The IEC also supports all forms of conformity assessment and administers four Conformity Assessment Systems that certify that components, equipment and systems used in homes, offices, healthcare facilities, public spaces, transportation, manufacturing, explosive environments and during energy generation conform to them.
IEC work covers a vast range of technologies: power generation (including all renewable energy sources), transmission, distribution, smart grid & smart cities, batteries, home appliances, office and medical equipment, all public and private transportation, semiconductors, fibre optics, nanotechnology, multimedia, information technology, and more. It also addresses safety, EMC, performance and the environment.
About the IEC TC 107
IEC TC 107: Process management for avionics, was set up in 2001 to develop process management International Standards on systems and equipment used in in the field of avionics and equipment for commercial, civil and defense aerospace applications requiring particularly high reliability level and long life duration.
The aerospace industry is increasingly dependent on ‘off the shelf’ electronic components, equipment, and systems designed and manufactured mainly for other industries, over which the aerospace industry has less control. TC 107 must develop standard processes to use and manage these components, equipment, and systems in aerospace applications, possibly in liaison with other industrial sectors also concerned.
The standards enable the avionics industries to comply with regulatory requirements and can also be used for conformity assessment. For example, IEC 62239-1, Process management for avionics - Management plan - Part 1: Preparation and maintenance of an electronic components management plan, is the reference for the IECQ ADHP scheme.