Quality Assurance

IPC-A-610: Ensuring World-Class Electronic Assembly Quality

The IPC-A-610 standard is the globally recognised benchmark for electronic assembly workmanship. Used throughout the electronics manufacturing industry, it defines the acceptance criteria for soldering, component placement, cleanliness, and overall build quality. As a trusted British electronics manufacturer, UK Electronics follows IPC-A-610 to ensure every assembly meets the highest levels of reliability, safety, and performance.

At UK Electronics, IPC standards are applied across every stage of our production workflow – from SMT and through-hole assembly to inspection, testing, and final box build. IPC-A-610 defines workmanship into three key classes, each aligned with different product requirements:

• Level 1 – General Electronic Products
Suitable for everyday consumer devices where basic functionality is the primary requirement.
• Level 2 – Dedicated Service Electronic Products
Used for industrial, commercial, and professional applications where long-term performance and reliability are expected.
• Level 3 – High-Reliability / Mission-Critical Electronic Products
Required for safety-critical industries such as medical, aerospace, defence, and instrumentation, where failure is not an option.

By manufacturing to IPC-A-610 standards, UK Electronics ensures consistent workmanship, repeatable quality, and reliable results across all production volumes. Whether you require general consumer-grade assemblies or high-reliability electronics, our processes guarantee that every product meets the exact expectations of your industry and application.

ISO 9001:2015 – Certified Quality Management for Reliable Electronics Manufacturing

At UK Electronics, our commitment to quality is reinforced through our fully accredited ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System (QMS). This internationally recognised standard provides the foundation for delivering high quality electronic assemblies with consistent workmanship, full traceability, and reliable manufacturing outcomes. UK Electronics has maintained ISO accreditation for more than 25 years, and we continue to be externally audited every year to ensure we meet and exceed the rigorous requirements of the standard.

ISO 9001:2015 governs how we manage, control, and continually improve our manufacturing processes. It ensures that our customers receive products built using structured, repeatable, and carefully monitored procedures.

Key areas covered within our QMS include:

• Documented and controlled manufacturing processes
• Defined responsibilities and workflow structure
• Clear customer and supplier requirements
• Performance measurement and continual improvement
• Risk management and corrective action procedures
• Full traceability throughout the build process

Adherence to this Quality Management System is mandatory across the entire company. Every department — from procurement and PCB assembly to inspection, testing, and dispatch — follows the same ISO-driven procedures to maintain reliability and consistency across all production volumes.

Our Quality Manual and Quality Assurance Procedures form the backbone of our approach to customer satisfaction and responsible business practice. These processes help us build strong, long-term partnerships with customers and suppliers, ensuring that expectations are clearly defined, responsibilities are understood, and performance standards are consistently met.

Through continual review and improvement of our internal systems, we ensure that our manufacturing processes remain efficient, compliant, and aligned with best practices in modern UK electronics manufacturing. When you choose UK Electronics, you can be confident that every product is supported by a proven, ISO-certified quality framework designed to deliver the outstanding reliability you depend on.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW OUR ISO 9001 CERTIFICATE

ISO 14001:2015 – Our Commitment to Responsible & Sustainable Electronics Manufacturing

At UK Electronics, we are committed not only to manufacturing high quality electronic assemblies, but doing so in a way that protects the environment and supports long-term sustainability. Our ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management System (EMS) demonstrates our dedication to responsible manufacturing practices, resource efficiency, and continuous environmental improvement. This certification is externally audited each year alongside our ISO 9001 accreditation, ensuring our processes consistently meet internationally recognised environmental standards.

ISO 14001:2015 helps us manage our environmental impact by providing a structured framework for assessing risks, reducing waste, and improving sustainability across all areas of our business. We actively promote environmental awareness among our team and encourage practices that help minimise our footprint, including:

• Using water-based flux and water-based conformal coating to reduce the use of harmful chemicals
• Switching to lead-free and colophony-free solders to support safer, cleaner manufacturing
• Maintaining full RoHS compliance to ensure that all products meet strict environmental regulations
• Reducing waste through recycling initiatives and resource optimisation
• Monitoring and improving energy use and environmental performance

These actions reflect our long-term sustainability strategy and our commitment to operating as a responsible British electronics manufacturer. By integrating environmental considerations into every stage of production, we ensure that our products are manufactured safely, ethically, and with care for both customers and the environment.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW OUR ISO 14001 CERTIFICATE

ISO 13485:2016 – Certified Manufacturing for Medical Electronics & Devices

In March 2019, UK Electronics achieved full ISO 13485:2016 certification, confirming our capability to manufacture electronic assemblies for use in medical devices and healthcare equipment. ISO 13485 is the internationally recognised quality management standard for medical device manufacturing, defining strict requirements for process control, documentation, risk management, and regulatory compliance.

This certification demonstrates that UK Electronics operates a controlled, traceable, and compliant manufacturing environment suitable for the production of medical-grade electronic assemblies. It ensures we follow robust procedures throughout product development and PCB assembly, including:

• Documented manufacturing processes that meet regulatory expectations
• Controlled product development steps to support device safety and performance
• Strict process validation and risk management
• Comprehensive traceability for every batch, component, and assembly
• Compliance with essential medical device safety standards
• Ongoing monitoring, auditing and continuous improvement

ISO 13485 certification gives medical device manufacturers confidence that their electronic assemblies are produced using safe, reliable, and fully compliant processes. Whether supporting diagnostic equipment, laboratory technology, monitoring devices or other healthcare applications, UK Electronics provides a trusted, British-based supply chain that meets the stringent demands of the medical sector.

Click here to view our certificate.

RISQS – Approved Supplier to the GB Rail Industry

UK Electronics is a fully verified supplier under the Railway Industry Supplier Qualification Scheme (RISQS) — the standard pre-qualification system used across the entire Great Britain rail network. RISQS provides a trusted, single-entry qualification process that enables rail industry buyers to source compliant, reliable suppliers for electronic assemblies, components and related services.

Our RISQS accreditation confirms that UK Electronics meets the strict quality, safety and compliance requirements expected within the rail sector. This allows us to support a wide range of rail projects, supplying high reliability electronic assemblies and manufacturing solutions to organisations operating across the GB rail infrastructure.

Becoming a RISQS-approved supplier enables UK Electronics to bring our trusted manufacturing excellence, technical capability and competitive pricing to customers within the rail industry. Whether supporting signalling equipment, monitoring systems, communications hardware, or other critical electronic assemblies, we deliver dependable, high-quality products manufactured here in Britain.

Click here to view our certificate.

RoHS Compliance – Ensuring Safe, Lead-Free & Environmentally Responsible Electronics

UK Electronics has been fully RoHS compliant since 2006, following the introduction of the Restriction of Hazardous Substances directive within the UK and wider European market. RoHS legislation restricts the use of specific hazardous materials in electronic equipment to protect both the environment and end users. Our compliance ensures that every electronic assembly we produce meets these environmental and safety requirements.

RoHS-compliant manufacturing guarantees that all components and materials used by UK Electronics are free from the following restricted substances:

• Lead (Pb)
• Mercury (Hg)
• Hexavalent Chromium (Cr(VI))
• Cadmium (Cd)
• Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBB)
• Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE)

By removing these hazardous materials from the manufacturing process, RoHS significantly reduces environmental impact and prevents harmful substances from entering landfill or the wider ecosystem.

As a responsible British electronics manufacturer, UK Electronics is committed to safe, sustainable production. All of our electronic waste is handled by an approved external recycling partner in accordance with the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) directive, ensuring responsible disposal and full regulatory compliance.

RoHS compliance forms an essential part of our wider quality and environmental strategy, supporting the production of high quality electronic assemblies that are safe, sustainable, and suitable for global markets.

Our Commitment to Sustainable, Responsible Electronics Manufacturing

At UK Electronics, sustainability is an essential part of how we operate. We recognise that electronics manufacturing has an environmental footprint, and we are committed to managing this responsibly through a structured and continually improving Environmental Management System (EMS). Our recent certification to ISO 14001:2015 reinforces this commitment, demonstrating that we meet internationally recognised standards for environmental performance, resource efficiency and pollution prevention. This accreditation is audited annually alongside our ISO 9001:2015 quality certification, ensuring robust environmental governance across the business.

As a responsible British electronics manufacturer, we actively promote sustainable development and implement practices designed to reduce waste, prevent pollution and minimise the use of potentially harmful materials. Our environmental commitments include:

• Preventing pollution and reducing waste wherever possible
• Encouraging recycling and efficient use of resources
• Reducing energy consumption and monitoring usage
• Ensuring full compliance with environmental legislation
• Continuously reviewing and improving our environmental performance

All waste generated at our facility — including hazardous materials — is removed and processed through approved waste and recycling partners. Items such as waste oil, toxic materials and hazardous substances are disposed of strictly in line with local environmental regulations.

We also maintain dedicated recycling facilities on site for:

• Waste paper and cardboard
• Polythene
• Used printer cartridges
• Fluorescent tubes
• Dross solder
• Stencil wipes and empty solder paste containers
• SMD reels and trays

In addition, all outdated electrical equipment and scrap PCBs are responsibly recycled in accordance with the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Directive, ensuring full compliance with UK environmental requirements.

As part of our ongoing sustainability efforts, UK Electronics continues to reduce the use of chemicals and harmful substances in manufacturing. This includes transitioning to water-based flux, water-based conformal coating, and fully lead-free and colophony-free solder processes. These initiatives form a core part of our strategy to produce high quality electronic assemblies in a way that protects both our customers and the environment.

Through continuous improvement and responsible manufacturing practices, we remain committed to delivering sustainable, environmentally conscious electronics production here in Britain.

JOSCAR – Approved Supplier for Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space

Blackburn Circuit Design Ltd, a subsidiary of UK Electronics, is an approved member of the Joint Supply Chain Accreditation Register (JOSCAR). JOSCAR is an invitation-only accreditation system used by major organisations across the Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space sectors to identify fully qualified and trusted suppliers.

Being JOSCAR-accredited demonstrates that Blackburn Circuit Design has met the strict requirements expected of suppliers working within highly regulated, mission-critical industries. The accreditation confirms our capability, reliability and professionalism, and is recognised and valued by some of the largest buyers in the defence and aerospace community.

JOSCAR assesses multiple areas of a supplier’s business, including:

• Technical capability and manufacturing competence
• Accreditations and quality standards
• Information security and data protection
• Corporate social responsibility and ethical practices
• Financial stability and operational integrity

This cross-sector collaborative system simplifies and streamlines supplier pre-qualification, reducing time, cost and duplication for buyers while ensuring they work only with suppliers who meet the highest industry expectations.

JOSCAR approval reinforces the reputation of Blackburn Circuit Design — and the wider UK Electronics group — as trusted providers of high-reliability electronic assemblies for critical applications across aerospace, defence, security and space sectors.

Click here to view our certificate.

Read more about the accreditation.

Cyber Essentials – Strengthening Security Across Our Digital Infrastructure

At UK Electronics, the security of our systems, data and customer information is a fundamental priority. As part of our commitment to maintaining a secure and resilient digital environment, we are proud to be certified under the Cyber Essentials scheme — a UK government-backed programme designed to protect organisations from the most common and preventable cyber threats.

Cyber Essentials certification demonstrates that UK Electronics has implemented robust security controls across our IT systems, including secure networking, access management, malware protection and best practices for data handling. This helps safeguard our operations and ensures that sensitive customer information and project data are protected at every stage of our manufacturing and administrative processes.

By achieving Cyber Essentials, we strengthen our position as a trusted British electronics manufacturer, providing reassurance to customers that our digital infrastructure is resilient, compliant and protected against cyber risks. This certification also supports wider supply chain security, ensuring reliability and confidence when partnering with UK Electronics for the production of high quality electronic assemblies.

Click here to view our certificate.

IPC/WHMA-A-620E – Certified Quality for Cable & Wire Harness Assemblies

At UK Electronics, we are committed to delivering cable and wire harness assemblies that meet the highest levels of workmanship and reliability. Our manufacturing processes conform to the IPC/WHMA-A-620E standard, the globally recognised specification for the acceptability of cable and wire harness assemblies.

This standard defines the requirements for materials, methods, tests and quality criteria used in cable assembly production. By adhering to IPC/WHMA-A-620E, we ensure:

• Consistent, repeatable build quality
• Correct termination, crimping, insulation and soldering techniques
• Reliable cable performance in demanding environments
• Manufacturing suitable for industrial, commercial and high-reliability applications

Working to this internationally accepted benchmark provides customers with confidence that each cable or harness assembly produced at UK Electronics meets strict quality and durability requirements. As a trusted British electronics manufacturer, we combine technical expertise with proven processes to deliver high quality electronic assemblies engineered for long-term performance.