When we think about Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) testing, we often imagine a product being sealed in a chamber while engineers wait anxiously for a pass or fail result. But in reality, the way we approach EMC testing can have a huge impact on efficiency, cost, and even product design—especially when the product team witnesses the test in person.
Here’s why attending EMC testing sessions can offer more than just peace of mind:
1. Speed Up the Testing Process
Witnessing your EMC test in person allows for real-time decision-making. When engineers are on-site, they can quickly respond to requests from the lab—whether it’s configuring their products for test setups, clarifying product behavior, or authorizing changes. Without this presence, each back-and-forth communication can introduce hours or even days of delay.
For example, if a test reveals unexpected emissions from a particular cable or subassembly, an on-site engineer can immediately confirm its importance, recommend a swap, or suggest temporary shielding—all within minutes. This reduces downtime between test iterations and keeps the process moving.
2. Opportunity to Fix Issues On the Spot
Let’s face it: not every product passes EMC testing on the first try. But being physically present allows your team to respond and resolve in real time. You can experiment with fixes—like adding ferrites, adjusting grounding, or repositioning cables—right then and there, often avoiding the need for a re-test.
Rather than going back to the office, implementing changes, and rebooking lab time (sometimes weeks later), on-site fixes can sometimes result in a pass the same day. Not only does this keep your timeline intact, but it also prevents a snowball of additional costs. Its not just being able to consider temporary fixes or solutions, its a quick solution that you may have as back up. You could then go back with a quick-make-fix compliance product and still work on trying better solutions
3. Understand the Failure, Not Just the Result
Seeing your product under test provides critical insight. You can observe test conditions, understand how failure modes arise, and discuss potential design improvements with EMC technicians or test engineers in real time. These conversations often uncover subtle design issues that might otherwise go unnoticed.
This firsthand knowledge is especially helpful for future designs—it feeds into better design-for-compliance strategies, reducing the chances of future failures and making your products inherently more robust.
4. Avoid Expensive Retesting and Delays
Each re-test isn’t just a hit to the schedule—it’s a hit to the budget. Lab time is expensive. Product downtime is expensive. Travel and logistics? Also expensive.
By resolving issues on the day of the test, you cut down the risk of extended project timelines and avoid the domino effect of delays across production, certification, and release. For startups and lean teams, this kind of efficiency can make a critical difference.
Final Thoughts
Witnessing your EMC tests may seem like an added overhead—but it’s quite the opposite. It’s an investment in speed, flexibility, and cost control. With real-time responsiveness, the chance to implement immediate fixes, and the opportunity to learn from the test process itself, your team can avoid rework, reduce stress, and get to market faster.
Next time you book your EMC lab session—be there. You’ll thank yourself later.
“PLAN to PASS and FAIL to LEARN”
