Blog: Measurement System Analysis (MSA) in Electrical Testing

Introduction

In today’s fast-paced semiconductor and electronics industry, electrical testing plays a critical role in verifying device functionality and reliability before products reach the market. Every integrated circuit, transistor, or component undergoes rigorous testing to ensure it meets specification limits often within a tolerance window of just a few millivolts or microamps.

However, as testing systems become more automated and precise, it’s increasingly important to confirm that the measurement system itself is capable and reliable. This is where Measurement System Analysis (MSA) becomes essential.

DataLyzer Qualis MSA Software provides manufacturers with a powerful, standardized platform to perform all types of MSA studies including Type 1, Type 2, Type 3 Gage R&R, and Kappa studies helping companies ensure their test data truly reflects product variation, not tester or operator variation.

Modern Electrical Testing and DataLyzer Qualis MSA Software

In semiconductor electrical testing, MSA is often challenging because:

• Tests are automated and performed by multiple Automatic Test Equipment (ATE) systems.
• Environmental factors (temperature, humidity, power stability) can influence readings.
• Test hardware such as probe cards or load boards can introduce variation.

DataLyzer Qualis MSA Software helps overcome these challenges by providing a fully integrated digital platform where users can easily enter or upload test data, perform instant statistical analysis, and generate clear graphical reports — making measurement system evaluation faster, more accurate, and easier to interpret

Automated Data Import Feature in DataLyzer Qualis MSA Software

Electrical testing — especially in semiconductor manufacturing — produces large volumes of data across many different test categories. In functional testing alone, engineers measure numerous characteristics such as open failures, short failures, leakage current, continuity, and more.

For parametric testing, the list grows even further, including measurements like current (Iddq, Ioh, Iol), voltage (Vth, Vdd margins), resistance, capacitance, timing, and frequency.

Manually entering or copying all these characteristics into an MSA study is slow and prone to error.

DataLyzer Qualis MSA Software solves this by offering fully automated data import capabilities.

The software can automatically import:

• Multiple functional test characteristics at once that definitely supports electrical testers.
• All parametric data (current, voltage, timing, frequency, etc.)
• ATE-generated data from CSV, spreadsheets, or logs
• Many characteristics in a single file — no need to upload parameters one by one

This automation reduces preparation time, eliminates human error, and ensures high data integrity for MSA studies.

By supporting automated imports for both functional and parametric tests, DataLyzer Qualis MSA becomes a perfect fit for high-volume semiconductor test floors.

Supported Study Types in DataLyzer Qualis MSA Software

DataLyzer Qualis MSA Software complies with AIAG MSA 4th Edition and supports all standard MSA methodologies:

• Type 1 Study
  Used to evaluate equipment variation only, typically during equipment qualification or tester calibration.
  In electrical testing, Type 1 can verify if a test system provides consistent readings for a golden device across multiple trials.

• Type 2 Study (Short-Term GR&R)
  Evaluates repeatability and reproducibility over multiple operators and trials within a short period.
  This helps confirm whether different technicians or setups can produce consistent results under controlled conditions.

• Type 3 Study (Long-Term GR&R)
  Extends the evaluation over longer periods, including real-world factors such as equipment drift, environment changes, or shift-to-shift variation.
  Using DataLyzer Qualis MSA software, engineers can easily schedule and analyze long-term studies to ensure the electrical test system remains stable over time.

• Kappa Study (Attribute MSA)
  Used for Go/No-Go or Pass/Fail tests, which are common in electrical testing when devices are screened for functionality.
  DataLyzer Qualis MSA software calculates the Kappa index to assess the agreement between inspectors or systems, helping reduce false rejects or false accepts.

Example: Type 3 Gage R&R Study for Electrical Testing

Let’s take an example of a long-term GR&R Type 3 study performed using DataLyzer Qualis MSA software on an electrical tester measuring resistance values.

The Raw Data is presented in the below image.

Using the Average and Range method, DataLyzer Qualis MSA Software automatically calculated the MSA results:

With just a few clicks, the software generated comprehensive GR&R results and ndc (number of distinct categories) values and also providing engineers with confidence that their measurement system remains capable over time.

Advantages of DataLyzer Qualis MSA Software in Electrical and Semiconductor Testing 

DataLyzer Qualis MSA Software provides a complete solution for quality and test engineers who need confidence in their measurement systems.

Key Advantages:

• Comprehensive Study Coverage – Supports Type 1, 2, 3 Gage R&R and Kappa studies in one platform.
• Real-Time Analysis – Instantly calculates %GR&R, ndc, and study variation components.
• Semiconductor-Ready – Ideal for ATE, final test, and probe test data in wafer or package testing.
• Actionable Insights – Identify unstable test systems or drift early before affecting yield.
• Automated Dataset Imported – Supports high-volume, multi-characteristic imports ideal for test operations.

Conclusion

As electrical testing continues to evolve in precision and complexity, performing proper MSA studies is more critical than ever. Whether you are running parametric tests in wafer sort, final test, or functional verification, ensuring your test system is capable directly impacts product quality and yield.

DataLyzer Qualis MSA Software empowers engineers in the semiconductor and electronics industry to confidently evaluate, monitor, and improve their measurement systems. With built-in support for all study types and seamless integration with test data, it eliminates operator bias, improves reliability, and ensures that your measurement system meets the highest standards of accuracy and performance.