Adoption Status for IPC/WHMA-A-620xS

Adoption Status for IPC/WHMA-A-620xS

The NASA Workmanship Standards Program has been working to adopt IPC/WHMA-A-620xS since 2008. The goal is to allow the use of IPC/WHMA-A-620B-S, Space Applications Electronic Hardware Addendum to IPC/WHMA-A-620B as an alternative to NASA-STD-8739.4, Crimping, Interconnecting Cables, Harnesses, and Wiring.  This change facilitates a move by suppliers towards the industry voluntary consensus standard but does not force those suppliers who cannot accommodate the current IPC/WHMA-A-620B training options to do so.   

1.  IPC/WHMA-A-620xS meets or exceeds the requirements set in NASA-STD-8739.4:  Complete as of 620AS.1, June 18, 2012.

2. An IPC hands-on operator, inspector and instructor training program is available:  Complete, July 5, 2013. 

This training program is a combination of slides and hands-on which lasts eight days.  This is a three day increase from the status quo for this type of training.  The NASA Workmanship Program explored developing a 5-day "space only" training as an alternative but was not successful and the approach was abandoned:  2014 

3.  NASA-STD-8739.6A update complete:  June 2016

4.  Coordinate and submit new language for NASA-STD-8739.6A reflecting how  IPC/WHMA-A-620xS may be used as an alternative equivalent standard to NASA-STD-8739.4.  Draft recommended change to NPD 8730.5 to allow use of IPC/WHMA-A-620xS.  Submit both for implementation by NASA HQ OSMA:  April 10, 2017

5. Publish by OSMA as an administrative change:  June 19, 2017

See Note 1, HERE for a short background of the motivation for adopting the IPC/WHMA-A-620B-S. 

Please send questions or inputs to  Alvin.J.Boutte@nasa.gov