Automotive systems have become increasingly sophisticated in recent years, with new and improved features being introduced every year. For customers to be satisfied, it is important that these features are reliably powered, protected, and connected to their respective interfaces within the overall system. Bourns®, a leading supplier of high-reliability automotive components, has extensive experience designing, building, and supplying AEC-Q compliant components that meet the demanding requirements of the automotive industry.

Bourns® offers a wide range of resistors and magnetics to condition and filter electronic circuits, as well as a portfolio of circuit protection products that have been used by customers in typical automotive applications. All Bourns® standard components that are approved for typical automotive applications are manufactured in facilities that are fully certified to IATF 16949 and have been tested, qualified using the AEC-Q product validation standard for passive components, and presented to the customer for selection and approval using PPAP.

In addition to providing high-quality automotive components, Bourns® offers customers access to its application test lab, where surge tests and application and customer-specific testing can be performed. With excellent customer service and the availability of field application engineers, Bourns® works closely with automotive system designers to help customers select the right components, provide layout support, and make modifications as requested by the customer.

Bourns® Automotive Grade standard components are designed and developed to meet strict criteria, including compliance with the latest applicable AEC-Q200, AEC-Q101, or AEC-Q102 product validation standard or its equivalent, as determined by Bourns®. New product and new process development meets or exceeds the requirements established in the latest AIAG revision of the Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) process. The manufacturing facility(ies) have a VDA 6.3 process audit score greater than 80% with no downgrade. The manufacturing site (Bourns® or third-party subcontractor) that manufactures the Bourns® standard components must be certified to IATF 16949, and the components must be presented to the customer for approval using PPAP.

In conclusion, Bourns® has a long history of serving the automotive market with quality sensor products. Their inductive and circuit protection components are available to meet the board level requirements of many automotive applications. While the “Automotive Grade” designation is not a substitute for careful selection and testing of such Bourns® standard components in specific applications, Bourns® can be relied upon to provide high-quality components that meet the demanding requirements of the automotive industry.