Environmental testing is carried out by companies at different stages of product development. This is a crucial aspect of prototyping and proof of concept for new businesses. For seasoned professionals, the tests validate their most recent developments and allow them to beat the competitors on the market.

Different phases require different test profiles, but it should be noted that during research and development you should spend more time detecting possible areas of weakness (R&D). They are much more expensive to rectify later or during manufacture, including a waste of time.

Research

For the technological and engineering tasks required to advance product design and development, research is essential. Research and development (R&D) is used by virtually all sectors to plan, build and produce new innovative goods.

Various areas of R&D are housed in environmental test chambers. Some are designed to be studied in the laboratory, tested in research or evaluation of product alternatives, and to build and test pre-production prototypes.

The most typical tests are done to determine how long a product will last. Companies use something called highly accelerated life testing to mimic the life of a product (for example, a five degree shift in the test chamber is comparable to two years in an environment real) (HALT). The idea is to identify the ‘point of failure’ of a product so that companies can set expectations or, if necessary, shift their attention to a more sustainable design.

The more time, money and effort you invest in R&D testing, the more confident you will feel to move forward with production.

Production

Depending on the product and industry, companies use different approaches to production testing. Defibrillator manufacturers, for example, subject every item that leaves the factory to a rigorous resistance test (HASS). (The purpose of HASS testing is to demonstrate that the product does not perform poorly when it reaches the point of failure indicated during HALT testing.) Each has a rescue function, so it is essential that they all operate correctly and without defaults.

Individual product testing is actually required in several companies. Of course, companies also test off-the-shelf items. Others, on the other hand, will test multiple batches of items at once to save time and resources.

The concept remains the same regardless of the way. Before releasing your articles to the general public, you need to make sure of their quality and reliability. The tests also validate the investment of time and money in R&D.

Quality control

Does the product work as it should? In quality testing, you want to know if this is the case. Quality assurance and quality control ensure that a product is of the highest quality. Environmental quality regulations apply to a variety of goods, components and parts in several industries. These criteria may be imposed by government or industry authorities, or they may be a key part of a company’s design or production standards.

Reliability test

This is where the environment has an important role. Electronics manufacturers, in particular, test their products in a variety of environments, including severe temperatures and high and low humidity levels. The expectations and directions of consumers are informed by the results. Reliability testing also helps prevent costly and unexpected product issues once the product has been released. You can confidently enter the market if you can detect sites of failure in HALT tests and ensure that products coming out of production reliably reach those limits.