Understanding IPC-620 Compliance for Cable Harnesses

IPC/WHMA-A-620 is the industry standard for the requirements and acceptance of cable and wire harness assemblies. Understanding what compliance means helps you specify quality correctly and audit suppliers effectively.

What Is IPC-620?

IPC-620 defines acceptability criteria for crimps, solder terminations, splices, connector assembly, molding, marking, and testing of cable and harness assemblies. It is jointly developed by IPC and the Wire Harness Manufacturer's Association (WHMA).

The Three Product Classes

Class 1 covers general electronic products where cosmetic imperfections are acceptable. Class 2 covers dedicated service electronics requiring extended life. Class 3 covers high-reliability products — aerospace, medical, military — where failure is not an option.

Why It Matters

Specifying the correct IPC-620 class on your drawings removes ambiguity from quality expectations. It gives inspectors objective accept/reject criteria and gives you recourse when workmanship falls short.

Certification and Training

Look for suppliers whose operators and inspectors hold current Certified IPC Specialist (CIS) credentials, and whose trainers are Certified IPC Trainers (CIT). Certification must be renewed periodically, so verify dates.

Conclusion

IPC-620 compliance is the baseline for professional harness manufacturing. Specify the class that matches your application, and verify your supplier's certification before awarding production.