toolcraft
Christoph Hauck
Member of the Executive Board (Technology and Sales)
NTS Group
Jochem Aarnink
Manager Operations AM
World`s first qualified supply chain for the semiconductor industry – ASML
The AM suppliers in this project have been audited with a high-over focus on the production process to satisfy the ISO/ASTM 52920 and other standards including the ASML GSA. The timeline for proof of conformity through QualifiedAM audits, reports, and certificates was typically completed within 4 to 10 months per supplier. For ASML high-end/class 3 critical components, the audited “risk qualification & validation” service competence significantly impacts the implementation of semiconductor critical components. The primary advantageous outcomes of this qualification project are the reduction of process variables affecting quality, the improvement of reproducibility in process outputs, and the demonstration of a production process that is focused on quality and reliability.
Within a span of a few months, we have successfully developed and implemented the supplier audit scheme and the qualification program for ASML additive manufactured components within the semiconductor supply chain. The document titled ‘ASML AM GSA’ integrates ISO/ASTM standards, ensuring the reproducibility of additive manufacturing (AM) components.
The Qualified AM Audit Team is performing detailed production process audits at the AM suppliers of ASML.
ASML recognizes the significant potential that AM has, but also sees the need for advanced quality assurance. One of the main challenges is the quality variations between supply chain partners. These variations are caused by the use of different AM systems, materials, parameter sets and human interactions that need to be standardized.
Therefor the scope of qualification provided by Qualified AM GmbH covers the AM process category PBF/LB-M from multiple machine manufacturers in combination with different materials like titanium (Ti6Al4V) and stainless steel 316L. The corresponding process parameters as well as team competencies are also thoroughly covered in the audit process.