The long awaited AS6081 document, which will be the new bible for electronic component distributors to detect counterfeits when buying from the open market, has met a major milestone. The authors, AERI included, have finished their final draft to go out to government and industry for balloting. After the month long process is over the committee reviews the comments made during the balloting period and makes changes to the draft if the suggestions are warranted or reject changes which are not deemed necessary. The committee hopes the final document will be released early in 2012.

Robb Hammond is the founder and CEO of AERI, an independent electronic component distributor operating since 1994. He is a founding member and former committee chair of SAE AS6081, the counterfeit-avoidance standard for independent distributors adopted by the U.S. Department of Defense, and a recognized authority on counterfeit detection.