The ability to quickly and accurately measure panel performance is increasingly important as volumes increase, and as more product and more product choices become available in the market. OEMs must assess a greater number of ODM panels to select first- and second-tier suppliers consistent with the highest possible end-product quality. To do this, OEMs need objective comparative data to make the most informed buying decisions.

Timely and accurate measurement data is invaluable in reducing time to market and increasing supply chain throughput. OEMs and suppliers can benefit from common qualification test procedures and panel measurement standards or criteria to reduce “specification management” practices that add time, cause confusion in qualification, and have led to avoidable differences in interpreting testing results.

To meet these challenges, DisplaySearch and Westar offer a Panel Procurement Evaluation Service in which OEMs can quickly obtain accurate comparisons of panel performance for products from any number of suppliers, avoiding “specmanship,” saving time and money, and minimizing the complexity of external coordinations.

“After being contacted by several OEMs interested in this type of service, we selected Westar to cooperate with us in offering this unique service because of their independent reputation and large installed base," according to Ross Young, President of DisplaySearch. “This service gives OEMs a huge advantage by providing apples-to-apples comparative data in a simple to review format,” said RobTopping, President of Westar.

The new service is simple and efficient. An OEM gives DisplaySearch a list of panels being considered and those panels are shipped with their datasheets to Westar’s laboratories. Westar first produces the electrical/video interface timing and power-up/power-down sequencing according to the datasheet interface specifications. After successfully driving the display, Westar performs the requested tests.

After testing is completed, DisplaySearch provides the OEM with the completed evaluation report.

OEMs can select from Westar’s recommended quality test procedures, which are a combination of standardized testing based on the well-known measurement methods prescribed in the VESA FPDM Standard, TCO’99/’03, and ISO13406-2. As part of the service, Westar can also test to any OEM’s specialized test procedures or their existing internal practice.

Westar will provide the test results to DisplaySearch who will format and publish a private-client report that clearly illustrates the objective results of the evaluation testing. The whole test and evaluation process is supported by written instructions for ODM participants that can be included in the OEM’s solicitation, simplifying program communication.

This new Panel Procurement Evaluation Service will bring reliable, objective display measurement data and display performance reports to the display community. The complementary arrangement joins DisplaySearch’s leadership in display market research, analysis, information distribution, and consulting to Westar’s experience and expertise in display measurement systems. The result is an alliance that provides OEMs with rapid access to objective technical data, streamlining their supplier and panel selection process.

For more information, please contact DisplaySearch by region as follows:

• US – Ross Young, 512-459-3128
• Taiwan – CE Wang/David Hsieh, 886-2-2798-3928
• Japan – Yoshio Tamura/Mickey Kato, 81-045-972-6919

For more information on any DisplaySearch product, service or event, please visit www.displaysearch.com or contact Kendra Smith at 512-459-3126 or email at kendra@displaysearch.com.

About DisplaySearch
Founded in 1996, DisplaySearch is the worldwide leader in flat panel display market research and consulting. Because DisplaySearch surveys the whole display food chain – component suppliers, equipment manufacturers, FPD producers, OEMs, brands, distributors and retailers – it has a unique and highly sought-after viewpoint attracting a growing number of customers. It provides the industry's most valuable market forecasts, technology assessments, surveys, conferences, studies and analyses and has acquired, in just seven years, a customer base of more than 500 companies in 20 countries.

About Westar Display Technologies
With over 60% market share in the panel QA/QC market, Westar Display Technologies (www.displayquality.com) is a leader in “Defining Display Quality^sm”. Westar’s FPD Performance Measurement (FPM) Systems are used at major OEMs and around the world at ODMs for R&D and QA/QC testing of materials, panels, and finished products.