The reliability of integrated circuits and systems from a manufacturing point of view

The reliability of a system using integrated circuits is not an independent variable. Factors such as the system cost, capability, and complexity must also be considered as affecting reliability. By implication this also applies to each individual integrated circuit, to an extent determined by its inherent reliability and its influence in the system, which in turn depends on the system design, since functions may be implemented by either hardware (fixed functions) or software (programmable and usually more flexible). Some of the ways in which system requirements can affect the design, manufacture (including quality control), testing and quality assurance programmes (e.g. British Standard BS 9450) of large scale integrated circuits such as microprocessors, and the development of integrated circuit systems, having regard to reliability control, are discussed.