The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released findings today with regard to blatant counterfeit electronic components readily available for purchase in a report called, ”DOD Supply Chain: Suspect Counterfeit Electronic Parts Can Be Found on Internet Purchasing Platforms” This report details how, using a fictitious business name, the GAO bought 16 different groups of parts from 13 different distributors in China and every single part they received was counterfeit. Some of the parts the GAO ordered were not even real part numbers, but the Chinese distributors supplied them anyway. “These findings should outrage every American,” said Senator Carl Levin who is Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. ”GAO`s finding that every single counterfeit part that they bought online came from suppliers in China, while not surprising, is deeply troubling. The Chinese government`s refusal to shut down counterfeiting that occurs openly in their country puts our national security and the safety of our military men and women at risk. Not only that, but it also costs thousands of American jobs.” We at AERI know that this is the reality of the component market. Our purchasing and quality control process have been prepared to handle this dilemma for years. It is amazing that many manufacturers or electronic equipment are still buying from brokers who are allowing these fakes to get through. Brokers tell their usual story about their expert detection capabilities. OEM’s need to get out there and audit their suppliers to make sure they are not a victim of a counterfeit disaster. See more details about the GAO report at the following link.
Robb Hammond is the President of AERI and the former chair of the Aerospace Industry’s Counterfeit Electronic Components Mitigation Standard for independent distributors, AS6081, which has become one of the industry’s most respected documents, as well as being adopted by the Department of Defense. Robb is one of the foremost thought leaders in the industry on counterfeit detection and speaks regularly at conferences around the globe.