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Test & automation

Test Solutions Throughout the Product Lifecycle

MCF test systems are used throughout the entire product lifecycle – from prototypes and laboratory testing through verification, validation and production to service and analysis. This page provides an overview of four lifecycle phases and nine test methods, each with its own detail page.

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Product lifecycle

Four phases, four requirement profiles

A laboratory test system has to work differently from one used in series production. MCF therefore considers not only the technical test task but also the relevant phase of the product lifecycle. This determines the degree of automation, contacting method, user interface, data connection, test speed, documentation and maintainability.

Prototypes & Laboratory

Flexible & open

Flexibly test and evaluate samples, prototypes and individual assemblies using measurement technology.

What matters most: Flexibility & accessibility
Typical solution: Manual laboratory station, modular measurement setup

Test methods in this phase

Prototype TestingHIL TestingCustom Test Systems

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Verification & Validation

Reproducible & validating

Reproducibly test and validate functions, limits and product behavior.

What matters most: Reproducibility & validation
Typical solution: Development and functional test bench

Test methods in this phase

HIL TestingEnvironmental TestingEndurance TestingRun-In & ScreeningHV Testing

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Production

Robust & cycle-time capable

Ensure series quality with fast, repeatable and fully traceable testing.

What matters most: Cycle time, process reliability & traceability
Typical solution: EOL tester, inline system, test cell

Test methods in this phase

Run-In & ScreeningHV TestingBoard-Level TestingEnd-of-Line TestingCustom Test Systems

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Service & Analysis

Diagnostic & traceable

Systematically test, diagnose and release failed, repaired or returned products.

What matters most: Diagnostics, history & release
Typical solution: Diagnostic and repair test station

Test methods in this phase

HV TestingBoard-Level TestingEnd-of-Line TestingRepair & Diagnostic TestingCustom Test Systems

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Test methods

Test methods for every application

Each method answers a different question: Does the first prototype work? Can the product withstand temperature, load and time? Is the assembly ready for reliable contacting and testing in series production? What caused a returned unit to fail? Many methods are used in several phases and are described once on their own detail page.

Initial functional verification

Prototype Testing

Evaluate initial samples and prototypes using measurement technology – flexible, accessible and quickly adaptable.

Use throughout the product lifecycle

Prototypes & Laboratory

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Hardware-in-the-loop

HIL Testing

Test control units and assemblies against a simulated environment – reproducibly and without the real system.

Use throughout the product lifecycle

Prototypes & LaboratoryVerification & Validation

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Temperature & humidity

Environmental Testing

Measure product behavior across temperature and humidity ranges with synchronized test system and climate chamber operation.

Use throughout the product lifecycle

Verification & Validation

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Lifetime & load

Endurance Testing

Load products over long periods and many cycles while monitoring them continuously.

Use throughout the product lifecycle

Verification & Validation

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Screening out early failures

Run-In & Screening

Operate assemblies under load before delivery and reliably screen out early failures.

Use throughout the product lifecycle

Verification & ValidationProduction

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Electrical safety testing

HV Testing

Standards-compliant testing of insulation, dielectric strength, protective earth and leakage current – the routine test every electrical product needs.

Use throughout the product lifecycle

Verification & ValidationProductionService & Analysis

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ICT · FCT · Boundary Scan

Board-Level Testing

Test and program PCBs and assemblies at component and functional level.

Use throughout the product lifecycle

ProductionService & Analysis

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Final release in series production

End-of-Line Testing

Fully test, evaluate and release the finished product or assembled module at the end of the line.

Use throughout the product lifecycle

ProductionService & Analysis

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Diagnostics & release

Repair & Diagnostic Testing

Isolate root causes, document repairs and safely release products again.

Use throughout the product lifecycle

Service & Analysis

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When standard solutions do not fit

Custom Test Systems

Customer-specific test tasks without a standard solution – mechanical, measurement-related or process-specific.

Use throughout the product lifecycle

Prototypes & LaboratoryProductionService & Analysis

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Comparison

What matters in each phase?

MCF configures every test system for its specific application – no oversized standard solutions, but test stations and systems tailored to the exact technical and organizational requirements.

Phase	Primary objective	What matters most	Typical solution
01Prototypes & Laboratory	Test, measure and investigate	Flexibility & accessibility	Manual laboratory station, modular measurement setup
02Verification & Validation	Validate the product	Reproducibility & validation	Development and functional test bench
03Production	Ensure series quality	Cycle time, process reliability & traceability	EOL tester, inline system, test cell
04Service & Analysis	Find and evaluate faults	Diagnostics, history & release	Diagnostic and repair test station

Continuity

From the first measurement to series testing

Test methods from prototyping and validation can be transferred into robust production tests. Production data, in turn, supports service and analysis. The result is an integrated test approach with clearly defined measurement methods, traceable results and long-term scalability.

Prototypes & Laboratory

Verification & Validation

Production

Service & Analysis

Consistent across all phasesMeasurement dataTest softwareContactingDocumentationTraceability

Single-source delivery

Test systems tailored to the lifecycle phase – from a single source

Depending on the application, MCF handles concept development, mechanical design, electrical engineering, software development, automation and commissioning. Whether for laboratory work, verification, production or service, each test system is designed around the actual workflow.

Discuss your test task

Analysis of the test task
Definition of the application and degree of automation
Test concept and test strategy
Design of the fixture and contacting solution
Selection and integration of measurement technology
Electrical engineering and control cabinet construction
PLC, automation and robotics engineering
Test software and user interface
Test data acquisition and result documentation
Interfaces to databases, MES and customer systems
Commissioning, training and production support
Calibration, measurement uncertainty and test equipment capability