What Is IPC/WHMA-A-620? A Quick Guide to the Cable and Harness Standard
Oct 11, 2026
IPC/WHMA-A-620 is the industry standard for cable and wire harness assemblies.
Its full title is Requirements and Acceptance for Cable and Wire Harness Assemblies. It is published jointly by IPC and the Wire Harness Manufacturer's Association (WHMA).
The Short Answer
IPC/WHMA-A-620 tells you how a cable or harness must be built and how to judge whether it is acceptable.
Unlike IPC-A-610, it is both a requirements standard and an acceptance standard. That makes it the single document most harness shops work from.
What Does IPC/WHMA-A-620 Cover?
- Wire preparation and stripping
- Crimp terminations and crimp quality
- Soldered terminations and splices
- Connectors, insulation displacement and pin insertion
- Over-molding, potting and shielding
- Marking, labeling, cable ties and harness routing
- Electrical and mechanical testing
Classes and the Space Addendum
Like other IPC standards, A-620 uses Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 criteria.
For space and military hardware, customers may also call out the Space and Military Applications Electronic Hardware Addendum, which adds requirements beyond Class 3.
Who Needs IPC/WHMA-A-620?
- Harness and cable assemblers
- Inspectors and quality staff
- Manufacturing and process engineers
- Design engineers who specify cables and harnesses
- Buyers and supplier quality staff
Why Not J-STD-001 for Harness Work?
J-STD-001 is written for soldered electrical and electronic assemblies. Most harness work is crimping, routing, connectors and testing.
IPC/WHMA-A-620 covers those processes directly. That is why it is the right certification for cable and harness personnel.
How Do You Get IPC/WHMA-A-620 Certified?
- CIS (Certified IPC Specialist) for assemblers, inspectors and engineers
- CIT (Certified IPC Trainer) for in-house trainers
- CSE (Certified Standards Expert) for the standard expert in your company
ElectroSpec offers on-demand IPC/WHMA-A-620 exam preparation with online, proctored testing.
