HASS or Highly Accelerated Stress Screening is a testing process that has been used since the 80's as a way for manufacturers to continually test the products that are being made on their assembly lines. By putting a product through HASS testing the manufacturer can be certain that when their product reaches the customers hands it will perform as advertised and last as long or longer than it was designed to without any major problems. While many manufacturers use HALT testing to make sure the original design will stand up to the test of time by testing it until it breaks, this testing is only designed to help them make a better product. It does not help them keep the same level of quality on the production line. Once the design is approved it is in the hands of the production floor to keep the quality level at the appropriate levels, if they do not keep a close eye on what is being made then it is possible for the final product to end up defective or not lasting as long as it should, HASS testing can help to avoid this situation. Because today's customers are demanding more quality in the products they buy, they tend to shun a manufacturer with a reputation for making products that do not last. This can quickly lead to the demise of the company who does not pay close attention to the products coming off the assembly line.

If they have a HASS testing process in place they can significantly reduce the number of subpar quality products that make it onto the shelves. HASS testing involve the use of a special chamber that is designed to replicate the worst possible conditions a product might be subjected to during its normal life cycle. This includes exposure to extremes in both heat and cold along with intense vibration on several axes. Unlike HALT which test a product until it is destroyed HASS is designed to perform the same tests but a much lower level so that the product is still tested but not destroyed.

HASS testing is only done on products that come off of the production line; there would be no point in it otherwise. Before a product can be approved for this testing process it must have undergone HALT testing and passed so that a baseline for quality and durability can be established. If you do not have a baseline to compare to, you have no real idea where a product's pass/fail limits are and when a product should be rejected. In order to perform HALT and HASS testing your Quality Control team is going to require specialized training in both how to perform the tests and how to use the equipment. Ted Kalal and Reliability Help can come to your manufacturing facility and share their knowledge and experience while they train your staff in how to test your products. This can save your company both time and money trying to figure out why your products are not exhibiting the level of quality and durability your customers expect.