In the beginning stages of the creation and development of electronic components, the defense industry was the driver for component manufacturers to make new technology and support defense programs. Now consumer products have overtaken the attention of the component manufacturers. Defense designed components are a very small portion of just a few component manufacturers now. The defense industry has had to start using commercial devices since they are just a small customer for the component manufacturers. This opens up to the defense designs being more easily replicated and the reliability and durability of the chips are typically lower. It has become very difficult to support old programs without having to buy products from the aftermarket. This opens up the opportunity for counterfeit electronic components to enter the defense supply chain. For more on the issues the Defense Department faces read this story from Federal News Radio.
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.
