HALT & HASS Test
Accelerated Stress/ Life Test (AST/ALT) started back in the 1960s in America when space projects were demanding higher reliability standards. As times past and high technology has become more and more advanced, due to the quickly changing market, the old ways of verifications were too slow and new test methods were demanded to meet the needs of the changing market caused by product competition. Therefore, a key problem with all national and international companies was to find a fast and efficient way of detecting flaws during the designing stage. This is why HALT and HASS became important.
It is universally known to be easier if a flaw or weak link is rectified during a developmental stage. If the product is already in mass production, any problems will be harder to fix. In this marginal profit age, if a product shows signs of malfunction or failures during the warranty period, the cost of damages and lose of reputation are incalculable.
During the 1990s, large American companies (including HP, Dell, Motorola and etc) had used HALT testing for newly developed products to quickly find any potential defects or weaknesses in the design or production as well as make modifications to lower costs during warranty, increase product reliability, and shorten product launch. In addition, findings from HALT testing can be used for failure mode and information for continuing development. Currently, high technology industries such as aerospace electronics, automobile electronics, and information technology all perform HALT testing and received effective results.
