Chain liability or chain responsibility is something that we are confronted with every day, also in nature. An ant colony only functions if the ants in the colony work together and take responsibility. We too, as individuals, can only function well if we work together with other people in society. This is no different within electronics and here too it is about cooperation and taking responsibility and responsibility for the entire chain is important. You can go very far back, but if we look at the electronics manufacturing industry, we have a number of links that we have to deal with. We have the printed circuit board supplier that purchases its basic products and turns them into a printed circuit board. With all sorts of actions that he performs and he supplies this circuit board to an assembler who puts components on it, components that he has also purchased from his suppliers who are also part of that chain and when those components are finally soldered / assembled on the circuit board, that printed circuit board is used in a housing and that comes together with possibly a cable harness and a final product for the customer. All these steps within that chain influence the next step. If a printed circuit board supplier purchases bad products, purchases bad basic products and then turns them into a printed circuit board, this can have an impact on the later course and functioning of the final end product. The customer ends up with a bad or non-functioning product. It is also possible that the product is used in an aircraft and that this aircraft fails, which can have tragic consequences. It is important that everyone takes their responsibility and is aware of the consequences that this can have for an end product. The correct and reliable functioning of the end product is very important and that is why various IPC documents deal with this chain responsibility. It states that if this document applies to you, it also applies to all steps in advance and that this also applies to contracts that you have with subcontractors. They make a part of this product for you and contribute to that chain. You are responsible for this, you have signed and you must ensure that everything meets the requirements so that the end product is ultimately a reliable end product. If somebody somewhere in that chain does not take his responsibility, uses products or materials that are not the right ones, it can have an impact on the end product. This product may then fail and may have tragic consequences. IPC indicates in the various documents that a printed circuit board supplier must ensure that he uses the right products. The IPC-6012 clearly indicates which basic materials should be used and what the copper layers that must be used and which requirements they must meet. If we look at the IPC-A-610, the requirements that are set for the product and any items that are carried out by third parties are also there. In other IPC documents you will also find indications with regard to chain responsibility and that everyone should contribute to this. It is important that every individual, within that chain, is aware of his task, his role and his influence on the ultimate good and reliable functioning of the end product. That one takes this responsibility and is aware of these consequences if he does not take that responsibility. If at some point he uses materials that are not in order and that cause products to fail.
