Electroless Nickel Plating Audit Parameters

Vendor Name
Type of Line: Rack or Barrel

Related
ITE PSA Category/Pro Type of Control
M# Questio cess Steps
n#

Minimum
Requirement Actual Condition
STEEL
1.0 Alkaline Soak Cleaner
Type:
Size, volume:
Proprietary name:
Chemical supplier:

1.4; 2.11;
H1.1 2.13 Temperature Automatic
H1.2 1.4; 2.11; Concentration(s) Manual
2.13
1.4; 2.11; Automatic or
H1.3 2.13 Time Manual
H1.4 Agitation Automatic
Automatic or
H1.5 Solution Level Manual
Automatic or
H1.6 2.15 Flowing Rinse Manual
2.0 Alkaline Electrocleaner
Type:
Size, volume:
Proprietary name:
Chemical supplier:

H
2. 1.4; 2.11;
1 2.13 Temperature Automatic
H 1.4; 2.11; Concentration(s)
2. Manual
2.13
2
H
2. 1.4; 2.11; Automatic or
3
H 2.13 Time Manual
2. Agitation Automatic
4
 H
2. Automatic or
5 4.1, 4.4 Current/Voltage Manual
H
2. Automatic or
Solution Level Manual
6
H
2. 2.15, 4.2 Flowing Rinse Automatic
7
### Acid Activation
Type:
Size, volume:
Proprietary name:
Chemical supplier:

H
3. 1.4; 2.11;
1 2.13 Temperature (if applicable) Automatic
H 1.4; 2.11;
3. 2.13 Concentration(s) Manual
2
Metallic impurity concentration. Obtain
H metallic impurity limits from chemical
3. supplier with required corrective
3 actions. Manual
H
3. 1.4; 2.11; Automatic or
4
H 2.13 Time Manual
3. Agitation Automatic
5
H
3. Automatic or
Solution Level
6 Manual
H
3. 2.15, 4.2 Flowing Rinse Automatic
7 ALUMINUM
### Soak Cleaner
Type:
Size, volume:
Proprietary name:
Chemical supplier:

H
4. 1.4; 2.11;
1 2.13 Temperature Automatic
H 1.4; 2.11;
4. Concentration(s) Manual
2 2.13
H
4. 1.4; 2.11; Automatic or
3
H 2.13 Time Manual
4. Agitation Automatic
4
H Automatic or
4. Solution Level Manual
5
H
4. 2.15, 4.2 Flowing Rinse Automatic
6
### Etch
Type:
Size, volume:
Proprietary name:
 Chemical supplier:

H
5. 1.4; 2.11;
1 2.13 Temperature Automatic
H 1.4; 2.11;
5. Concentration(s) Manual
2 2.13
Metallic impurity concentrations of Al
and Cu. Obtain limits from chemical
H supplier with required corrective
5. actions. Per process sheet
3 and TDS
H
5. 1.4; 2.11; Automatic or
4
H 2.13 Time Manual
5. Agitation Automatic
5
H Automatic or
5. Solution Level Manual
6
H
5. 2.15, 4.2 Flowing Rinse Automatic
7
### Deoxidizer/Desmutter
Type:
Size, volume:
Proprietary name:
Chemical supplier:

H
6. 1.4; 2.11;
1 2.13 Temperature Automatic
H 1.4; 2.11;
6. Concentration(s) Manual
2 2.13
Metallic impurity concentrations of Al
and Cu. Obtain limits from chemical
H supplier with required corrective
6. 1.4; 2.11; actions. Per process sheet
3 2.13 and TDS
H
6. Automatic or
4
H Time Manual
6. Agitation Automatic
5
H Automatic or
6. Solution Level Manual
6
H
6. 2.15, 4.2 Flowing Rinse Automatic
7
### Zincate (and second Zincate)
Type:
Size, volume:
Proprietary name:
Chemical supplier:

H
7. 1.4; 2.11;
1 2.13 Temperature Automatic
 H 1.4; 2.11; Concentration(s)
7. Manual
2.13
2
Metallic impurity concentrations of Al.
H Obtain limits from chemical supplier
7. 1.4; 2.11; with required corrective actions.* Per process sheet
3 2.13 and TDS
H Automatic or
7. Time Manual
4
H Automatic or
7. Agitation Manual
5
H
7. Automatic or
Solution Level
6 Manual

H Dump Schedule Manual

7. 2.15, 4.2 Flowing Rinse Automatic
7
### Zincate Strip (when double Zincate)

Type:
Size, volume:
Proprietary name:
Chemical supplier:

H
8. 1.4; 2.11;
1 2.13 Temperature Automatic
H 1.4; 2.11; Concentration(s)
8. Manual
2.13
2

H Metallic impurity concentrations of Al.

8. 1.4; 2.11; Obtain limits from chemical supplier Per process sheet
3 2.13 with required corrective actions. and TDS
H
8. Automatic or
4
H Time Manual
8. Agitation Automatic
5
H Automatic or
8. Solution Level Manual
6
H
8. 2.15, 4.2 Flowing Rinse Automatic
7
### EN Strike (optional process)
Type:
Size, volume:
Proprietary name:
Chemical supplier:

H
9. 1.4; 2.11;
1 2.13 Temperature Automatic
H
9. 1.4; 2.11; Automatic or
2 2.13 Nickel Concentration Manual
H
9. Automatic or
3 Time Manual
H 1.4; 2.11; Agitation
9. Automatic
2.13
4
H
9. Hypophosphite concentration Manual
H
5
9. Solution loading (surface area of parts
6 per volume plating solution) Manual
Automatic or
H9.7 Solution Level Manual
Automatic or
H9.8 pH Manual
Continuous per
process sheet &
TDS
H9.9 Filtration
Bath life (metal turnovers) (calculate by
specific gravity or orthophosphite or
H9.1 nickel adds made)
0 Manual
H9.1 2.15 Flowing Rinse Automatic
1
10.0 Electroless Nickel
Type:
Size, volume:
Proprietary name:
Chemical supplier:

H10. 1.4; 2.11;

1 2.13 Temperature Automatic

H10. 1.4; 2.11; Automatic or

2 2.13 Nickel Concentration Manual
H10. 1.4; 2.11;
3 2.13 Time Manual
H10. Agitation Automatic
4
H10. Hypophosphite concentration Manual
5
Solution loading (surface area of parts
H10.6 per volume plating solution) Manual
H10.7 Solution Level Automatic or
Manual
Bath life (metal turnovers) (calculate by
specific gravity or orthophosphite or
nickel adds made)
H10.8 Manual
 Automatic or
H10.9 pH Manual
Continuous per
process sheet &
TDS
H10.10 Filtration
H10.11 2.15 Flowing Rinse Automatic

H10.12 Hardness Test (if applicable) Manual

H10.13 Phosphorous content (if applicable) Manual

Specialty Electroless Nickel Alloys
11.0 and Composites
Type:
Size, volume:
Proprietary name:
Chemical supplier:

1.4; 2.11;
H11.1 2.13 Temperature Automatic

1.4; 2.11; Automatic or

H11.2 2.13 Nickel Concentration Manual
1.4; 2.11;
H11.3 2.13 Time Manual
H11.4 Agitation Automatic
H11.5 Reducing agent concentration Manual
Specialty Electroless Nickel Alloy and
H11.6 Composite concentrations Manual
Solution loading (surface area of parts
H11.7 per volume plating solution) Manual
Automatic or
H11.8 Solution Level Manual
Bath life (metal turnovers) (calculate by
specific gravity or orthophosphite or
nickel adds made)
H11.9 Manual
Automatic or
H11.10 pH Manual
Per process sheet
H11.11 Filtration & TDS
H11.12 2.15 Flowing Rinse Automatic
Heat Treatment for Hardness (if
12.0 applicable)
Oven temperature set point(s) and
H12.1 limits are verified and documented. Manual
 Oven temperature is monitored and
H12.2 recorded. Automatic

Temperature uniformity surveys are

H12.3 performed yearly. Manual

Thermocouples are checked and/or

H12.4 replaced quarterly. Manual
Inert gas pressure set point(s) and
H12.5 limits are verified and documented. Manual
Time is electronically recorded or
mechanically recorded (not hand-
written).for start of bake cycle,and end Automatic/Manua
H12.6 of bake cycle. l
Audit Parameters

Monitoring Observation/
Frequency Comments

Minimum
Requirement Actual Condition (Pass / Fail / N/A)

Continuous monitoring
by controller. Manually
verify daily.
Once per day
Per process sheet and
after program changes.
Per process sheet

Once every 8 hours

Once every 8 hours

Continuous monitoring
by controller. Manually
verify daily.
Once per day
Per process sheet and
after program changes.
Per process sheet
Per process sheet and
TDS Once every 8
hours*

Once every 8 hours

Once every 8 hours

Continuous monitoring
by controller. Manually
verify daily.
Once every 8 hours*

Once per month

Per process sheet and
after program changes.
Per process sheet

Once every 8 hours

Once every 8 hours

Continuous monitoring
by controller. Manually
verify daily.
Once every 8 hours*
Per process sheet and
after program changes.
Per process sheet

Once every 8 hours

Once every 8 hours

Continuous monitoring
by controller. Manually
verify daily.
Once every 8 hours*

Once per month

Per process sheet and
after program changes.
Per process sheet

Once every 8 hours

Once every 8 hours

Continuous monitoring
by controller. Manually
verify once every 8
hours.

Once every 8 hours*

Once per month

Per process sheet and
after program changes.
Per process sheet

Once every 8 hours

Once every 8 hours

Continuous monitoring
by controller. Manually
verify once every 8
hours.
Once every 8 hours

Once per month

Per process sheet and
TDS
Per process sheet and
TDS

Once every 8 hours

Manually measure
impurities once every 8
hours*
Once every 8 hours

Continuous monitoring
by controller. Manually
verify once every 8
hours.

Once every 8 hours*

Once per month

Per process sheet and
after program changes.
Per process sheet

Once every 8 hours

Once every 8 hours

Continuous monitoring
by controller. Manually
verify every 30 minutes
while running.
Prior to production
start-up. Automatic:
verify daily. Manually:
once every 30 minutes
while running.

Per process sheet and

after program changes.

Per process sheet

Once every 8 hours*

Per process sheet and
TDS
Once per hour
Once every 30 minutes
while running*

Once every 8 hours

Per process sheet and

TDS
Once every 8 hours

Continuous monitoring
by controller. Manually
verify every 30 minutes
while running.

Prior to production
start-up. Automatic:
verify daily. Manually:
once every 30 minutes
while running.

Per process sheet and

after program changes.
Per process sheet
Once every 8 hours
Per process sheet and
TDS
Once per hour

Once per day

Once every 30 minutes
while running*

Once every 8 hours

Once every 8 hours
Per process sheet and
TDS
Per process sheet and
TDS

Continuous monitoring
by controller. Manually
verify every 30 minutes
while running.

Prior to production
start-up. Automatic:
verify daily. Manually:
once every 30 minutes
while running.

Per process sheet and

after program changes.
Per process sheet
Once every 8 hours*
Per process sheet and
TDS
Per process sheet and
TDS
Once per hour

Once per day

Once every 30 minutes
while running*

Once every 8 hours

Once every 8 hours

Start of bake cycle and

every batch change.
A continuous chart
recorder must be used
with a temperature
control alarm.

Uniformity survey must

show that ovens were
tested with a full
production load. The
applicator shall
demonstrate that the
time from plating to
baking temperature can
be reached within the
time limit set by
customer requirements.

Supplier shall have

preventative
maintenance system
that is documented and
implemented.
Start of bake cycle and
every batch change.

Every baking batch.