Types of Environmental Testing with an In-Depth Look at Skewed Fixture for HALT

(32:42) Terry Liu, VP of Operations, Quanta Laboratories — Selecting the appropriate environmental test is one of the most critical steps in ensuring the reliability of advanced electronic and photonic systems. This presentation will provide an overview of the main categories of environmental testing—including vibration, shock, temperature, humidity, altitude, and combined stresses —- and practical considerations for deciding which tests are most relevant for different products and applications. The focus is on how to make informed choices that balance cost, schedule, and reliability goals. The talk will highlight Highly Accelerated Life Testing (HALT) as a subset of environmental testing. While traditional qualification methods confirm compliance, HALT is specifically designed to push products beyond expected operating limits to reveal design weaknesses early. Drawing on Quanta Laboratories’ decades of experience and contributions to IEST Recommended Practices for HALT, the presentation will share lessons learned from supporting hundreds of companies in developing HALT specifications and applying them effectively. The skewed fixture technology for vibration and environmental stress screening is covered. This innovation allows simultaneous multi-axis excitation, reducing test time and cost while uncovering defects that may be missed with conventional single-axis methods. The goal is to give engineers and program managers a clear, experience-based roadmap for choosing the right test specifications and integrating HALT effectively within a comprehensive reliability strategy.
Bio: Terry Liu is Vice President of Operations at Quanta Laboratories, where he has dedicated 25 years to advancing environmental testing. A recognized expert in Highly Accelerated Life Testing (HALT), he has advised hundreds of companies in spec development and contributed to IEST Recommended Practices. Under his leadership, Quanta has expanded capabilities to meet evolving industry needs, including more than two decades of expertise testing lithium-ion batteries. Quanta is the largest independent ISO 17025 A2LA-accredited environmental testing lab in Northern California, serving industries from aerospace, defense, and automotive to telecom, medical, food, nuclear, and consumer electronics. Terry has presented at IEST and other industry seminars, published technical articles, and is committed to advancing testing best practices. Earlier in his career, he held positions at IBM, PwC, and several startups. He holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and an MBA from UCLA. A lifelong learner, Terry is also a chess and robotics coach.

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