ABSTRACT
The need for non-operating reliability is especially important when electronic products are stored for months, or even years, and are then expected to perform satisfactorily without prior inspection. The reliability of a specific product will vary, based not only on the design and manufacturing process and materials, but also on its stress history due to repair, handling, operation, storage, and dormancy environments. Atmospheric gases, including ozone, sulfur dioxide, and particulate can appear in all non-operating environments and can reduce reliability. The receipt screening process is a transition point in the flow of material, and is therefore a location of such probable environmental stresses as thermal, biological, and humidity stresses, and acoustic noise. The life cycle environments of a product include extreme and varying climatic conditions due to geographic location. Tropical environments comprise high temperatures, high relative humidity, daily temperature changes of up to 20°C, and frequent torrential downpours.
