Built on Automotive-Grade Reliability, MEMSIC Drives Restructuring of MEMS Industry Standards and Application Expansion

When a new energy vehicle performs an emergency lane change at 120 km/h, the millisecond-level response of an inertial sensor smaller than a fingertip directly determines whether the vehicle stability system can prevent rollover. When a drone conducts power grid inspection amid heavy rain, the precise heading data from geomagnetic sensors serves as its sole guarantee for safe return in valleys where satellite signals are unavailable.

As the “nerve endings” of intelligent systems, the reliability of MEMS sensors is never an optional bonus feature; it constitutes the bottom line related to safety and human lives.

Founded more than two decades ago, MEMSIC has embedded this principle deep into its corporate DNA. From pioneering the adoption of automotive-grade quality management systems back in 2002 to extending these stringent standards across all business segments today, MEMSIC has forged a reliability-centered development path validated by over 4 billion shipped chips.

Starting from Automotive-Grade Standards: Achieving Cross-Dimensional Competitive Advantage

Chip manufacturing involves highly sophisticated process workflows, making rigorous quality control indispensable. Even minor anomalies may lead to substantial losses. Furthermore, chip production entails microscale control over massive volumes, where 100% full inspection is infeasible. This necessitates a quality management model distinct from traditional mechanical manufacturing.

MEMSIC’s solution is to start from the most demanding sector.

Liu Haidong, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of MEMSIC, mentioned that as early as 2002, while most domestic MEMS enterprises were still exploring quality standards for consumer-grade products, MEMSIC fully rolled out the IATF16949 automotive quality management system across product R&D and production workflows. In the same year, its thermal MEMS accelerometer was first deployed in automotive electronic stability controllers and side airbags, making MEMSIC the earliest domestic MEMS firm to establish an automotive-grade quality control system.

Liu Haidong further emphasized: “Validated rigorously by more than 20 years of automotive market applications, MEMSIC has not confined its standards solely to automotive applications. Instead, we have extended this battle-tested quality management framework to all business lines, including consumer electronics, industrial control, medical devices, low-altitude economy and embodied intelligence. This delivers cross-dimensional competitive advantage and puts us well ahead of peers.”

Today, MEMSIC maintains a complete portfolio of certifications covering IATF16949, ISO9001, ISO14001 and ISO45001. An independent quality management department has been established with a well-defined organizational structure featuring separated powers. Organic integration of quality inspection, statistical quality control and total quality management consistently keeps product performance at industry-leading levels.

End-to-End Strict Control: Multi-Level Gate Reviews from Design to Mass Production

“Every product must be closely monitored at every stage, from development through manufacturing,” Liu Haidong stressed. MEMSIC enforces end-to-end quality system control, with strict review mechanisms running through the entire product lifecycle.

At the design stage: Embed quality into chip architecture. Built on automotive-grade APQP methodology, the company has developed proprietary GATE review workflows for R&D governance. Strict quality checkpoints are implemented at each milestone: project initiation, technical feasibility evaluation, economic benefit analysis, prototype trial, pilot production and full-scale mass production. Leveraging QFD (Quality Function Deployment), marketing and product teams work closely with frontline customers to translate harsh real-world operating conditions into concrete design specifications. Multiple rounds of DOE (Design of Experiments) accurately identify optimal process windows. The company maintains robust calibration procedures for measuring equipment and MSA (Measurement System Analysis), and collaborates deeply with multiple CNAS 17025-accredited laboratories to guarantee authenticity and accuracy of all test data.

During operations: Full value-chain coordinated governance. Supplier management adopts a three-dimensional framework: system audit, process audit and delivery risk audit. New suppliers undergo stringent system qualification audits, while core suppliers receive frequent on-site process audits; on-site resident engineers are even deployed to participate in daily quality management. Production teams follow SOPs strictly and collect process data, while quality engineers deploy tools such as SPC and 8D reports plus internal audits for governance. During mass production, KPIs including yield, equipment OEE, on-time delivery (OTD) and quality cost drive PDCA cycles. An incentive scheme for continuous improvement is in place, with QC circles and 6 Sigma DMAIC methodologies flexibly deployed to elevate quality.

Advanced Tools and Intelligent Upgrade: Sustained Technological Leadership

“MEMSIC never stops evolving,” said Liu Haidong. The company regularly organizes training on quality tools and system upgrades, and has introduced globally recognized quality management methodologies including FMEA, MSA, 6 Sigma, SPC and Control Plan to keep its quality control system forward-looking and competitive.

Statistical Process Control (SPC) represents one of MEMSIC’s core strengths. Following IATF16949 requirements, the company identifies critical characteristics (CC/SC), deploying Xbar-R charts, P-charts and corresponding out-of-specification judgment rules. Under automotive-grade quality criteria, Cpk ≥1.67 is required for critical processes, while selected core processes meet Cpk ≥2.0. Non-compliant processes are closed-loop improved using fishbone diagrams, Pareto charts and DOE.

Current optimization efforts focus on shifting SPC monitoring from final semi-finished outputs upstream to process parameters such as pressure, temperature and flow rate, since recipe control is paramount in semiconductor manufacturing. The company continuously upgrades IT systems and evolves toward smart factory operations, truly achieving “stable process control to guarantee consistent outputs.”

MEMSIC adopts a combined inspection strategy of full testing plus dynamic sampling. 100% functional testing is performed on all chips to ensure every shipped unit meets performance specifications. Intermediate processes follow AQL sampling standards, with sampling intensity dynamically adjusted according to batch quality. The defect rate for consumer-grade products is steadily maintained below 50 ppm, while automotive-grade products achieve less than 5 ppm, matching the performance of top-tier international manufacturers.

Audit Closure and Quality Cost: Create Value Through Prevention

Internal audits follow IATF16949 and VDA requirements, covering three tiers: system, process and product, with full annual coverage. Led by experienced auditors and following the non-participation rule for relevant departments, audits are conducted via interviews, record reviews and on-site inspections. Non-conformities are tracked and closed via 8D reports, enabling standardized corrective actions and cross-learning across departments. Management reviews, attended by senior leadership, assess annual quality performance, risks, opportunities and resource allocation.

Liu Haidong explained MEMSIC’s distinctive strengths in quality cost management: modest upfront investment in quality control effectively mitigates severe quality risks on the customer side. Senior management prioritizes prevention costs, continuously reduces failure costs and scientifically calibrates appraisal costs, keeping overall quality cost within a reasonable range. Liu noted that MEMSIC has attained world-class standing in this field, with its geomagnetic sensors and capacitive accelerators ranking first domestically. For this reason, many globally renowned customers are willing to pay a premium for MEMSIC’s superior quality assurance.

Customer Value and Quality Culture: The Foundation of Trust Backed by 4 Billion Chips

The ultimate objective of quality management is to deliver continuous value to customers. MEMSIC’s quality team comprises senior specialists with nearly 20 years of experience in chip and sensor industries. A dedicated customer service team maintains an end-to-end service system covering customer complaints, returns and replacements, technical support, joint development and satisfaction management. A scientific scoring-based customer satisfaction survey mechanism keeps overall customer satisfaction consistently among industry leaders.

For product reliability, MEMSIC strictly adheres to JEDEC and AEC-Q international standards. Accelerated aging tests are conducted using rigorous statistical methods, with real-time monitoring of product FIT rates and equivalent lifetime to satisfy stringent requirements across diverse application scenarios.

To date, MEMSIC has shipped more than 4 billion sensor chips, widely adopted by over 300 global end customers in smartphones, automotive safety systems, industrial equipment, medical instruments, drones, humanoid robots and more. Consistent, dependable quality has earned high recognition and long-term trust from worldwide customers.

MEMSIC has now entered a new phase of total quality management, fostering an organizational culture where all employees prioritize quality. QC circles, 6 Sigma teams and PDCA cycles continuously drive corporate progress.

Build Brand Through Quality, March Toward Global Benchmark

From an automotive-grade quality control pioneer to a leader setting cross-industry quality benchmarks, MEMSIC has built its brand and won market trust through over two decades of commitment and innovation centered on quality.

Looking ahead, MEMSIC will further strengthen its total quality management system and keep introducing advanced quality management philosophies and tools. Its ultra-reliable sensing products will empower emerging industries including embodied intelligence and the low-altitude economy, delivering solid momentum for the high-quality development of China’s semiconductor sector. MEMSIC will steadily advance toward its goal of becoming a globally renowned semiconductor enterprise, writing a brand-new chapter of “Intelligent Sensing for All, Boundless Future.”