Warranty

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Warranty and Contingencies [Abstract]

Warranty

7. Warranty

Intevac provides for the estimated cost of warranty when revenue is recognized. Intevac’s warranty is per contract terms, and for systems sold directly the warranty typically ranges between 12 and 24 months from customer acceptance. For systems sold through a distributor, Intevac offers a 3 month warranty. The remainder of any warranty period is the responsibility of the distributor. During this warranty period any defective non-consumable parts are replaced and installed at no charge to the customer. The warranty period on consumable parts is limited to their reasonable usable lives. Intevac uses estimated repair or replacement costs along with its historical warranty experience to determine its warranty obligation. Intevac generally provides a twelve month warranty on its Intevac Photonics products. The provision for the estimated future costs of warranty is based upon historical cost and product performance experience. Intevac exercises judgment in determining the underlying estimates.

On the condensed consolidated balance sheets, the short-term portion of the warranty provision is included in other accrued liabilities, while the long-term portion is included in other long-term liabilities. The expense associated with product warranties issued or adjusted is included in cost of net revenues on the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

The following table displays the activity in the warranty provision account for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2012 and April 2, 2011:

	Three months ended
	March 31, 2012			April 2, 2011
	(In thousands)
Opening balance	$	2,724		$	3,415
Expenditures incurred under warranties		(781	)		(817	)
Accruals for product warranties issued during the reporting period		428			380
Adjustments to previously existing warranty accruals		123			114
Closing balance	$	2,494		$	3,092

The following table displays the balance sheet classification of the warranty provision account at March 31, 2012 and at December 31, 2011:

	March 31,		December 31,
	2012		2011
	(In thousands)
Other accrued liabilities	$	2,423	$	2,586
Other long-term liabilities		71		138
Total warranty provision	$	2,494	$	2,724