The recently enacted National Defense Authorization Act of 2012 has made the accidental use of counterfeit electronic components in government equipment a much more serious offense. The law increased the fines up to $2 million for individuals and $5 million for companies, increased prison terms up to 10 years for first time offenses, government contractors risk debarment, and the financial burden to correct any counterfeit issue will lie with the contractor, not the taxpayer. There are many new provisions which elaborate on increased supplier scrutiny, product traceability, and authenticity testing. Government contractors and their subcontractors are all panicking. AERI has received multiple inquiries about how we can help with their purchasing of obsolete components and verify the authenticity of their parts currently on their shelves. See this link for a very concise description of the new NDAA 2012 law.
Robb Hammond, founder and president of AERI (American Electronic Resource, Inc.). Founding member and former committee chair of the SAE AS6081 Standard created for the avoidance of counterfeit electronic components. Robb founded AERI in Costa Mesa, California, in 1994 as an independent distributor of hard-to-find, obsolete and allocated electronic components. AERI is AS9120B, ISO 9001:2015 and AS6081 certified, tests to AS6171 standards, and inspects every part in its in-house QC lab before it ships. Robb writes about electronic component shortages, sourcing strategy and counterfeit avoidance.
