Counterfeit Parts Protection Civilian and Military Electronics, Importance of Quality Manufacturing

Tired of being defrauded by counterfeit parts in your products?  Quality manufacturing that includes a robust counterfeit parts protection program is a must.  Here is what you need to know about counterfeit parts.

In today’s global market it is relatively safe to say that almost every manufacturer of electronic products has been victimized to some extent by counterfeit components.  Electronics industry experts identify this problem as costing more than $100 Billion dollars annually. An even greater concern is compromised national security or loss of life as these components infiltrate supply chains.

The American military continues to face a growing threat of potentially fatal equipment failure because of counterfeit components used in weapons, ships, warplanes, and communication equipment. Even the largest companies with their vast resources acknowledge the problem and have been victimized!

Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS) companies need to partner/work with are those committed to mitigating the risk of counterfeit components. Open communication between industry, customers, and suppliers is critical to identification and management of risks associated with counterfeit components.

An aggressive and adaptive counterfeit prevention system must be in place with tightened controls of internal purchasing procedures and approved suppliers. Within this system must be a process to proactively identify high cost, obsolete, end-of-life, and long-lead component items.

Early identification is an important element of risk mitigation.  Improved incoming inspection tools and procedures must be in-place for enhanced counterfeit component detection. Internal component lot traceability systems should be used to track components through the manufacturing process to the top level product.

Knowledge and awareness are key elements to continuous prevention and detection. As new tools and systems are developed to detect counterfeits, new ways to “fool” the tools and systems are used by the counterfeiters. Companies must be committed to being well-informed along with educating others on counterfeit prevention and detection. Quality firms are leaders with the local trade organizations, disseminating knowledge and awareness through seminars.

The risk for infiltration of counterfeit components into the supply chain increases for every step away from the component manufacturer. For Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM’s) using EMS, counterfeit prevention is a formidable task. The OEM’s exposure to these risks is directly tied to their EMS Provider’s commitment to preventing counterfeit components from entering the supply chain. Choosing the right EMS provider is paramount!

For more information, visit www.symetrics.com