warranty returns

**Warranty Returns** are **semiconductor devices returned by customers due to failure or non-conformance during the warranty period** — tracked as a key quality metric, warranty returns trigger return material analysis (RMA), root cause investigation, and corrective action to prevent recurrence. **Warranty Return Process** - **Customer Report**: Customer identifies failed devices — submits RMA request with failure mode description. - **Receiving**: Failed devices are received, logged, and prioritized for analysis. - **Failure Analysis**: Electrical characterization, physical failure analysis (FIB, SEM, TEM) — identify the root cause. - **Corrective Action**: Implement process, design, or test changes to prevent recurrence — 8D problem-solving methodology. **Why It Matters** - **Quality Indicator**: Warranty return rate (PPM) is a key customer quality metric — drives customer satisfaction and future business. - **Cost**: Each return costs $100-$10,000+ in analysis, replacement, and logistics — major quality cost driver. - **Continuous Improvement**: Warranty return analysis feeds back to improve manufacturing, testing, and design. **Warranty Returns** are **customer quality feedback** — returned devices that drive root cause analysis and continuous manufacturing improvement.