Worst-case circuit analysis (WCCA or WCA) is a cost-effective means of screening a design to ensure with a high degree of confidence that potential defects and deficiencies are identified and eliminated prior to and during test, production, and delivery.
WCCA helps in the process of building design reliability into hardware for long-term field operation.
Catastrophic failures may be minimized through MTBF, stress and derating, and FMECA analyses that help to ensure that all components are properly derated, as well as that degradation is occurring “gracefully...” A WCCA permits you to predict and judge the circuit performance limits beneath all of the combos of half tolerances.
The beginning of life analysis comprises the initial tolerance and provides the data sheet limits for the manufacturing test cycle.
The end of life analysis provides the additional degradation resulting from the aging and temperature effects on the elements within the device or system.
In order for the WCCA to be useful throughout the product’s life cycle, it is extremely important that the analysis be documented in a clear and concise format.