Role of the x-ray inspection system in enhancing quality control and counterfeit mitigation in the electronics industry
Counterfeit electronics components are the biggest threat to the electronics industry supply chain. As per the statistics, almost 20% of electronic components in distributors' supply chains are found to be counterfeit every year. Counterfeit electronic parts which are not identified on time can find their way as part of a computer motherboard, monitor, or other electrical appliance. They can cause functionality issues, short circuit risk, overheating, or other problems which can lead to the failure of the machine. As per research, counterfeit parts lead to damages costing more than $100 million every year. Thus, to minimize the risk of counterfeit components and enhance quality control, many inspection and testing techniques are used by the distributors and suppliers in the electronics industry, such as visual testing, X-ray inspection, electrical testing, and more.
How can X-Ray inspection help?
X-Ray inspection is one of the most widely used techniques for counterfeit mitigation and effective quality control in the electronics industry. The X-ray inspection systems are specifically designed to verify the inner structure and functional elements of electronic devices without opening or using destructive testing techniques. X-Ray inspection is used to identify components inside the package for their shape and size accuracy compared to the images from the original part made by the manufacturer. It helps identify any defects, proof of tampering, or counterfeit parts in the electronics industry.
The electronics X-Ray inspection is usually the next step after the visual inspection of the electronic component has been performed. It enables electronic suppliers and buyers to ensure the authenticity of the product and detect fraud. The failure to find a defective component may lead to fatal results. Therefore, if the authenticity of a supplied product cannot be verified using visual inspection or electronic testing, an X-Ray inspection is conducted to find any abnormalities in the electronic parts’ composition.
X-Ray inspection is a preferred method of counterfeit mitigation and quality control as it is a completely non-invasive and non-destructive testing technique that is relatively cost-effective. It saves the distributors from the risk of destroying or disassembling a product for testing with destructive methods such as decapsulation testing, which can be quite time-consuming.
If you are looking for a reliable supplier with extensive experience in supplying electronic components and in-house X-ray inspection systems for counterfeit detection, get in touch with our team for all your requirements.
What are the biggest challenges with inventory management?
Manufacturing companies heavily depend on an efficient inventory management solution to ensure smooth production. It is especially crucial for those industries which deal in electronic product manufacturing as the production may suffer if there is a lack of inventory. As per a 2018 estimate, the electronic manufacturing industry was valued at over half a trillion dollars. Other than the electronics manufacturing industry, many other businesses depend on component sourcing for their operating equipment and machines, such as military, defense, commercial businesses, and more. To ensure the smooth operation of business activities, they need an appropriate electronic parts supply on time. Therefore, an up-to-date, efficient inventory management system is crucial for both small and large enterprises.
As inventory management is a complex process, it presents many challenges for manufacturers and other industries, such as the following:
Maintaining inventory levels
Businesses must maintain an appropriate level of inventory at all times. However, doing so manually via different software's and spreadsheets can be very time-consuming and redundant. Moreover, it is vulnerable to errors which may lead to problems in maintaining appropriate levels of inventory.
An inefficient inventory tracking process
Many companies continue to use old and outdated methods of inventory tracking. It can make it harder and time-consuming to locate any specific parts in the inventory when needed. Updating the Inventory Management System with advanced technology and features can be highly beneficial in efficiently managing and tracking required inventory.
Quality assurance
Maintaining high-quality inventory and ensuring quality assurance can be quite challenging for large manufacturers. Quality assurance can be a labor-intensive task if there is no proper system to keep records of quality inspections. It may lead to inadequate, wrong, or delayed shipments. An advanced Inventory Management System can be highly effective in keeping a record of inventory quality assurance which helps you make strategic decisions for inventory maintenance and delivery.
Inventory loss
If the manufacturer’s inventory includes perishables or high-value inventory stock, which need to be kept under specific conditions and temperatures, you need to have a system in place to ensure the stock is well taken care of. An advanced Inventory Management System can help prevent inventory loss and keep you up-to-date regarding the inventory status.
Inventory management is a highly complex process. If you are facing any challenges in maintaining your inventory efficiently, get in touch with our team for expert efficient Inventory Management Solutions.
Things you should check when dealing with an independent electronic components distributor
The electronic components such as semiconductors and other parts used in medical or defense electronics usually become obsolete after 3 years on average. When such equipment ever needs a replacement part, finding a reliable obsolete electronic components distributor who can supply genuine parts can be pretty challenging. As the supply of obsolete components becomes scarce, finding a reliable obsolete components distributor beforehand becomes crucial. This way, whenever the need arises, you can quickly source the required parts. However, there are also many unauthorized distributors available in the market which provide counterfeit electronic components. Therefore, it becomes crucial to ensure the legitimacy of the supplier before making a purchase decision.
Following are a few questions that you must ask the distributor if you are sourcing obsolete electronic components from an independent distributor:
Make sure to verify if the electronic component distributor is ISO (International Standards Organization) certified. An ISO certification signifies that the company is complying with a quality management system that is regularly reviewed by its internal team and a qualified third-party auditor.
Also, ask the distributor if they are ANSI/ESD S20.20 certified. ANSI/ESD S20.20 certification is the multi-industry standard used by numerous international OEMs. It is highly regarded in the aerospace, automotive, telecommunication, commercial electronic, and medical equipment industries for meeting ESD control needs.
It is also recommended to ask the distributor whether they have a moisture sensitivity program in place. Some obsolete electronic components are increasingly sensitive to moisture and may be affected/damaged by mishandling or lack of a moisture control system.
Also, ask the distributor what inspection techniques they use for inspection. It is best to choose the electronic component distributors who utilize visual inspections, electrical testing, X-ray testing & other inspection equipment for various testings to supply authentic parts.
Ensure to ask the distributor whether they have incorporated IDEA-STD-1010, AS6081, or any other recognized inspection process to ensure quality.
Also, check whether they have a certified team of InterCEPT inspectors or an IDEA-ICE-3000 certified team for internal inspections?
Check the distributor’s legitimacy by checking whether they are a member of the ERAI. The ERAI (https://www.erai.com/) is an excellent and trusted resource to verify a vendor’s legitimacy. It prevents the circulation of counterfeit products.
You can also go through the online reviews about the company to check whether they are a reliable source and have delivered good quality electronic components to their past clients.
Reliable electronic components distributors can meet the required criteria and provide evidence of their legitimacy. However, you may also need to collect some more information before making a purchase decision. You should ask the distributor about their annual sales, minimum order limit, payment terms, waiting times, order delivery details, and any other information for making the purchase.
If you are looking for a legitimate and reliable obsolete components distributor, contact our team for expert assistance.
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