Anatomy of a HALT

A Highly Accelerated Life Test (HALT) consists of much more than simply subjecting a product to extreme environments to discern potential design weaknesses. Before testing, careful attention must be paid to planning, hardware and equipment availability, and ensuring the appropriate personnel are involved. The test must also include reviews of any potential hardware failures and the procedure for handling them. After test completion, a report must be written to document the entire procedure and any lessons learned. This article covers the entire anatomy of a HALT test from inception to final report.