# IPC/WHMA-A-620 Requirements in a Wire Harness Quote > Source: https://netray.co/resources/ipc-whma-a-620-requirements-in-wire-harness-quotes > Publisher: Netray (netray.co), AI and integration engineering for ERP and manufacturing systems. > Section: Knowledge Base ## Short answer How IPC/WHMA-A-620 Class 1, 2 and 3 affect harness cost: training, inspection, crimp validation, rework limits and what to state on the quote. ## Category erp-general ## Content **Intro:** IPC/WHMA-A-620 is the acceptance standard for cable and wire harness assemblies, and the class a customer specifies (1, 2 or 3) changes your labor, inspection, training and rework cost. A quote that says only "built to IPC-620" leaves the class, the revision, and any customer-specific exceptions unstated, which is how margin erodes. This page explains what the class changes in a real harness shop and how to reflect it in your quote and your ERP so the cost is captured, not absorbed. **Sections:** #### What the Standard Covers and What It Does Not **Body:** IPC/WHMA-A-620 sets workmanship acceptance criteria for crimped, soldered, ultrasonically welded and mechanically assembled connections, wire preparation, insulation damage, strain relief, marking, harnessing and lacing, and a range of other features. It describes acceptable, defect and process indicator conditions for each class. It does not replace the customer drawing, the wire and connector specifications, or process control details such as the terminal manufacturer's crimp specification. When the drawing and the standard disagree, the order of precedence in the customer's documents decides, so ask for it. Also confirm the revision and any space addendum the customer references, since criteria change between revisions. **Bullets:** - Class and revision stated on the drawing or PO - Customer-specific deviations or additions - Terminal manufacturer crimp specs that apply - Whether a space or other addendum is called out #### How Class 2 and Class 3 Change Your Cost **Body:** Class 2 is dedicated service electronics; Class 3 is high-performance or harsh-environment products where continued performance is critical. Class 3 generally means tighter acceptance limits, so more units need rework or are scrapped on inspection, more of the workforce must hold current certification, and inspection frequency or sampling often rises. It also tends to come with more documentation: records of crimp validation, lot-level traceability of wire and terminals, and objective evidence for each inspection. If you quote Class 3 at Class 2 prices, you will see it in rework hours and in customer returns. #### Training and Certification Are Real Line Items **Body:** IPC offers certification programs for the standard, for specialists who build and for trainers who teach. Customers in aerospace, defense and medical frequently require current certification for operators and inspectors on their product. Certification takes operator time off the floor, has fees and expires on a cycle, so record who holds what and when it lapses. Put a training cost into overhead or the quote for programs that require it, and make sure your ERP or HR system prevents scheduling an uncertified operator on a restricted operation. #### Crimp Validation and In-Process Checks **Body:** Most harness defects the customer sees start at the crimp. Quote for the process controls you will actually run: first-piece crimp height and pull force check at each setup, conductor brush and insulation support inspection, periodic checks during the run and applicator maintenance. Record results against the job and tool so a failure can be traced to a lot of wire and terminal. Crimp force monitoring on automatic machines is an option for high-volume work, but it adds capital cost, so check the volume before you promise it. **Bullets:** - Pull test at setup and at defined intervals - Crimp height or cross-section check for the terminal - Applicator ID and shot count tracking - Operator and inspector initials or digital sign-off #### Make the Class Drive the Router, Not a Note **Body:** In the ERP, the class should select the inspection steps, the documentation to ship, and the operators allowed to run the job. If it lives in a free-text field on the sales order, it will be missed on the shop floor. Add the class to the item or job as a controlled attribute and let routing templates inherit from it. That also lets you report scrap and rework by class and see whether you are pricing Class 3 correctly. #### Honest Limits **Body:** Software can check that required fields exist and that inspection records are complete, and an AI assistant can summarize which drawing notes imply a stricter class. It cannot interpret a borderline visual defect: that remains the certified inspector's call. If your shop builds only Class 2 consumer or commercial harnesses, a simple checklist may be all you need. **Cta:** Netray can read customer drawings and POs to flag acceptance class, revision and special notes, and show them to your estimator before the quote goes out. **Faq:** #### What is the difference between IPC/WHMA-A-620 Class 2 and Class 3? **Answer:** Class 2 covers dedicated service electronics where uninterrupted service is desirable but not critical. Class 3 covers high-performance or harsh-environment products where continued performance is critical, so acceptance criteria are generally tighter. In practice Class 3 raises inspection effort, rework rates and documentation needs, and it should be priced accordingly. #### Does every wire harness shop need IPC/WHMA-A-620 certification? **Answer:** Not by law, but many customers require it in their purchase terms, particularly aerospace, defense, medical and rail. Even where it is not required, using the standard as your workmanship reference reduces disputes. Check each customer's flow-down requirements for certified operators and inspectors. #### Where should the acceptance class be recorded? **Answer:** On the quote, the sales order and the job or item record in your ERP as a controlled field, so routing, inspection steps and shipping documents follow from it. A note buried in the customer drawing or a text comment is easy to miss at the work cell. ## Related Slugs - syteline-first-article-inspection-guide - syteline-inspection-plan-configuration - lot-traceability-electronics-manufacturing - serialization-strategies-defense-electronics ## Search terms IPC WHMA A-620 quote, IPC 620 class 3 cost, wire harness acceptance criteria, IPC/WHMA-A-620 certification requirements, cable assembly workmanship standard, crimp inspection requirements --- Talk to an engineer: https://netray.co/contact?intent=erp_ai | Machine catalog: https://netray.co/agent/catalog.json