Menu
Counterfeit parts have become an increasing problem in every industry that uses electronic components including commercial, industrial, automotive, military/aerospace and aerospace. It has become more and more difficult to know their true origin. Counterfeit parts you find today are highly sophisticated and they can often pass external and internal visual, marking permanency and even pin correlation/electrical testing.
The military even estimates that up to 15 percent of all spare and replacement parts for its weapons, vehicles and other equipment are counterfeit, making them vulnerable to dangerous malfunctions. A high number of components can be easily replicated or modified which leads to the need for even more sophisticated testing in order to detect counterfeits.
New and original microchips are harder and harder to find, especially ‘end-of-life’ or obsolete components. Chip recycling is big business in China. Annually it is a multi-billion dollar industry and is very closely guarded. The small microchip recycling house in this video generates approximately $1M each year. The majority of the boards are from the USA and Russia. This video shows how microchips are being harvested. Most of the boards are stored outside in open air, with water damage, with absolutely no ESD protection.
Because of both the quality and sophistication of many of today’s counterfeit parts, they can often pass such inspection protocols as external and internal visual, dimensional check, marking permanency and even electrical testing. Because such components can be easily cloned or altered, more sophisticated testing to detect counterfeit components is necessary.
You may have come across distributors with their own test lab claiming that their capabilities are reliable enough to avoid counterfeit material to pass through. They may also be ISO9001 and AS9120 certified which adds to the assuredness that their counterfeit mitigation is in place and followed through.
You need to make sure they are not just capable but are CERTIFIED to AS6081 test methods including FUNCTIONAL ELECTRICAL TESTING. To address this conflict of interest, there is only one ethical option—independent 3rd party test labs. If your current distributor will not allow an independent 3rd party test lab to test the parts, BUYER BEWARE.
Need something specific? Upload your Bill of Materials (BOM) for a FREE quote.
