What does rugged electronics mean?

Rugged Electronics implies equipment that can operate and survive in harsh conditions. This term could apply to military, aerospace, or automotive products. For most environments standards exist against which products can be qualified and meeting qualification standards can be an expensive challenge more so if you fail to pass first time.

Problems can stem from design, manufacturing process or even specifying a needlessly harsh qualification standard. It is important to understand your requirements at the earliest opportunity.

When problems do arise a clear failure analysis concluded in the shortest possible timeframe can get the project back on track. Delays cost money and sap customer confidence and retests are expensive. Lessons learnt must be adopted be they changes to process, training, supply chain or organisation.