BANNOCKBURN, IL – The IPC Technical Activities Executive Committee and the IPC board of directors approved the introduction of a Qualified Products List requirement within IPC-4101, Specification for Base Materials for Rigid and Multilayer Printed Boards.

The intent of the new requirement is to enhance supply chain verification of materials specification sheets, minimize nonverified submissions of specification sheets and give support to the committee evaluations of the new materials specification sheets.

Prior to submitting new materials specification sheets, companies will be required to receive the IPC Validation Services Qualified Products List certification. The QPL will ensure the company is meeting the requirements of IPC-4101 and delivering materials based on those requirements.

Companies that have submitted spec sheets for the proposed Amendment 1 to the current IPC-4101E will be required to obtain the required QPL listing.

The spec sheets will not be accepted for review until the QPL listing is met.

IPC's Validations Services QPL/QML Program was developed to promote supply chain verification. It also provides auditing and certification of electronics companies' products and identifies processes that conform to IPC standards.