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SMT dictionary & SMT abbreviations

In the Surface Mount Technology business there is a lot of abbreviations. 
Some everyone know - others you need to look up.


SMT dictionary & SMT abbreviations

What is AOI? What does CPH stand for? What does EMS mean? IPC is short for? What does OEM mean?  What is PCB short for?  What is a QFP?  What does SMT mean? 

What is AOI?

AGV                  Automated Guided Vehicle  

AMF                 Auto Mount Feedback  

AMR                 Autonomous Mobile Robot

AOI                  Automated Optical Inspection 

ATS                  Automatic Tray Supplier

AXI                  Automatic X-ray inspection 

BGA                  Ball Grid Array - a type of SMD

BOM                Bill Of Materials - files used for e.g. programming

CAD                  Computer-Aided Design 

CAM                 Computer-Aided Manufacturing

CEM                 Contract Electronics Manufacturer

CONV               Conveyor system

What does CPH stand for?

CPH                  Components Per Hour

Cpk    ​          Process Capability Index

CSP                  Chip Scale Package

CTQ                  Critical To Quality

DFA                   Design For Assembly

DFM                  Design For Manufactures

DFT                   Design For Test

DPM                 Defects Per Million Opportunities

ECAD                Electronic Computer-Aided Design

EDA                   Electronic Design Automation 

EMC                  Electromagnetic Compatibility

EMI                   Electromagnetic interference 

EMT                  Electronic Manufacturing Technology 

What does EMS mean?

EMS                  Electronic Manufacturing Service

EOL                   End Of Line test

EPA                   Electrostatic Protected Area

ERP                   Enterprise Resource Planning 

ESD                   Electrostatic Discharge 

FAI                    First Article Inspection

FCT                   Functional Circuit Test

FEFO                First Expired, First Out

FID                   Fiducial mark

FIFO                 First In, First Out

FOV                  Field of view

FPC                  Flexible Printed Circuit


HAL                 Hot Air Levelling 

HASL              Hot Air Solder Leveling

IC                     Integrated Circuit

ICT                   In-Circuit Test

IIoT                  Industrial Internet of Things

IoT                   Internet of Things

ISM                 Intelligent Management System

IPC is short for?

IPC                     Institute for Printed Circuits. Global organization that develop standards for electronics manufacturing

IPC-A-610​    ​  Acceptability of Electronic Assemblies

IPC-7711       ​  Rework, Modification and Repair

IPC-7721         ​Repair of Printed Boards and Assemblies

JEDEC               Joint Electron Device Engineering Council

J-STD               Joint Standard

J-STD-001       Requirements for soldered electrical and electronic assemblies

KPI                    Key Performance Indicator

LCC                   Leadless Chip Carrier

LCR                   Inductor, Capacitor & Resistor

LED                   Light emitting diode

LGA                    Land Grid Array

LIFO                   Last In / First Out

LQFP                  Low-profile Quad Flat Package

MES        ​ Manufacturing Execution System

MLCC      ​ Multilayer Ceramic Capacitor

MEMS  ​    ​ Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems

MPM       ​ Manufacturing Process Management

MRP      ​           Material Requirements Planning 

MSL          ​ Moisture Sensitivity Level

MSD             ​Moisture Sensitive Device

NPI                  ​ New Product Introduction

ODM            ​ Original Design Manufacturer

OCV            ​Optical Character Verification

OCR                  Optical Character Recognition

OEE                   ​Overall Equipment Effectiveness 

 

What does OEM mean? 

OEM                 Original Equipment Manufacturer

OSP                  Organic Solderability Preservative

What is PCB short for? 

PCB                 Printed Circuit Board

PCBA              Printed Circuit Board Assembled

PGA                Pin Grid Array

PLC                  Programmable Logic Controller

PLCC               Plastic Leaded Chip Carrier

PoP                  Package on Package

Ppk                 Process Performance Index

PTH                 Plated Through Hole

PWB                Printed Wiring Board

P&P                Pick & Place machines for SMD mounting

What is a QFP? 

QFP                  Quad Flat Package

QFN                 Quad Flat No-lead

REACH           Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation & Restriction of Chemicals  
                         (a European regulation)

Reflow            Reflow soldering process

RMA                Return Material Authorization

RFID                Radio Frequency Identification

RoHS               Restriction of Hazardous Substances 

SAC                  Tin-Silver-Copper solder alloy 

SiP                   System in Package

SIR                   Surface Insulation Resistance

SMA                  Surface-mount assembly (module assembled with SMT)

SMC                  Surface-mount components (components for SMT)

SMD                  Surface Mount Devices

SME                  Surface-mount equipment (SMT assembling machines)

SMEMA            Surface Mount Equipment Manufacturers Association

What does SMT mean? 

SMT                  Surface Mount Technology

SMP                  Surface-mount packages (SMD case forms)

SOIC                 Small Outline Integrated Circuit ​

SOJ                   Small Outline J-leaded

SOP                  Small Outline Package

SOT                  Small Outline Transistor

SPC                   Statistical Process Control

SPI                    Solder Paste Inspection

SSOP​                Shrink Small Outline Package

Stencil            Stencil solder printing

 
Tg                    Glass Transition Temperature

THT                  Through Hole Technology 

THR                  Through-Hole Reflow (in connection with soldering)

TQFP                ​Thin Quad Flat Package

TSOP               Thin Small Outline Package


UID                   Unique Identifier

UL                     Underwriters Laboratories

USP                  Uninterrupted Power Supply

VOC                  Volatile Organic Compounds

VOC-free         Volatile Organic Compounds Free


WAVE              Wave soldering

WIP                   Work In Progress

WMS               Warehouse Management System

Your SMT dictionary for electronics terminology

In the Surface Mount Technology industry, there is no shortage of abbreviations. Some are familiar to anyone working with electronics production, while others can make you reach for a search bar.

That’s where our SMT dictionary comes in.


Use this electronics dictionary to look up common SMT abbreviations, understand SMT meaning and get familiar with the terminology used across electronics manufacturing. Whether you are new to SMT or simply need a quick reminder of what an abbreviation means, you’ll find useful explanations gathered in one place.

What does SMT stand for?

SMT stands for Surface Mount Technology – a method of mounting electronic components directly onto the surface of a printed circuit board (PCB). SMT is a fundamental part of modern electronics production and involves processes such as solder paste printing, component placement, inspection and soldering.


But SMT is only one of many terms you will come across.

Common SMT abbreviations and terms

Our SMT dictionary covers abbreviations and terminology used throughout the electronics manufacturing process. You can look up terms such as AOI, SPI, SMD, ESD, PCB, EMS, OEM, EMC and AXI, as well as many other abbreviations used in the industry.


Not sure what an SMT acronym means? Looking for the SMT meaning of a specific term? Or simply wondering what does SMT stand for?


Have a look through the dictionary and find the explanation you need.


Because in electronics manufacturing, knowing the terminology makes it a little easier to understand the technology, the processes - and the conversations happening on the production floor.

From SMT to AOI -understanding the language of electronics production 

Many SMT abbreviations make more sense when you see how they connect to the production process.


For example, SMD describes the electronic components used in Surface Mount Technology, while PCB refers to the printed circuit board they are mounted on. SPI and AOI are inspection technologies used to check the quality of the production process, while ESD refers to electrostatic discharge - something that needs to be carefully controlled when handling electronic components and PCBs.


You will also come across terms such as EMS and OEM, which describe different roles within the electronics manufacturing industry and EMC, which relates to electromagnetic compatibility.


The terminology can seem complicated at first, but once the abbreviations start to connect, it becomes much easier to navigate the world of SMT and electronics production.

Why are there so many SMT abbreviations?

The electronics industry covers everything from individual components and PCBs to production equipment, inspection, software, materials and complete manufacturing processes. Naturally, that means a lot of terminology - and quite a few abbreviations.


Some terms are used every day by experienced SMT professionals. Others may only appear occasionally in machine specifications, technical documentation or conversations with suppliers.


Our electronics dictionary is here to make those terms easier to understand. Use it as a quick reference when you come across an unfamiliar SMT acronym, or simply when you want to refresh your knowledge of a particular term.


Because you don't need to know every abbreviation by heart. Sometimes you just need to know where to look.

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