How to Spot Counterfeit Electronic Components
Telltale signs of counterfeit electronic components
In 2017 and 2018, the Semiconductor Industry Association reported an increase in semiconductor sales worldwide, with its first highest-ever quarterly sales reaching $117 billion.
With such an uptick in overall component sales, comes the increased risk of receiving a counterfeit electronic component. Integrated Circuits are just one of the most counterfeited types of electronic components. Other commonly counterfeited products include; transistors, capacitors, resistors, memory, micro-controllers and processors, filters, converters and relays.
As expected, a hike in demand for electronics components in multiple industries leads to an increase in counterfeit electronic components parts in the market. In some cases, the counterfeit components excellently mirror originals, making it difficult to detect during initial testing. But down the line, these components fail, leading to severe dangers besides financial loss.
To avoid falling a victim of counterfeit electronic components, you should develop and implement anti-counterfeiting measures to detect any counterfeit components during the procurement process.
OEMs in sectors such as the Department of Defense and aerospace are adopting best practices to avoid procuring counterfeit military and aerospace electronic components. Similarly, you should ensure that your team is well trained on how to detect counterfeit electronic components.
4 Techniques to Detect Counterfeit Electronic Components
This article discusses different ways you can spot counterfeit electronic products and protect your supply chain.1. Thorough Examination of the Labeling and Packaging
In most cases, fake products manufacturers find it hard to replicate the original labeling and package. Make it a habit to inspect the labeling and packaging every time you receive new components. To be sure, compare the features of the newly acquired components with other parts you have from the original manufacturer. Check the following during the inspection:- Misspellings and wrong information on the labels
- Compare the part codes with those of the OEM and confirm that they match
- Confirm that the date codes on the components match with those on the label
- Ensure that the date codes on the labels make sense; they shouldn’t be too far in the past or the future
- The component packaging includes all the necessary parts
- The logo on the packaging matches that of the OEM
- Font consistency with that of the OEM
- Indicated country of origin should match the country code shown in the component
2. Component Examination
The component examination is one of the most specific methods of detecting counterfeit electronic components. The inspection involves the use of a regular X-ray to view the internal parts of the product. It helps you identify anomalies such as:- Inconsistent thickness and rough edges- as a way of eliminating the original code, the counterfeit electronic components manufacturers try to sand parts, which result in thinner parts and rough edges.
- Lack of uniformity on the indenting- to make part replacement easy, OEMs leave clear indents on the component. In counterfeit electronic components, you may note that the indents look shallow and rough.
- Inconsistency in pins distance-the distance between the pins may be tampered with in fake components. You may also note that the pins have oxidation or look a little too shiny.