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www.us-tech.com
September, 2022
X-Ray Inspection is Critical for Counterfeit Detection
By Joe Rance, Quality Assurance Manager, Abstract Electronics
chain from original manufactur- ers to distributors to product assemblers, every link in the chain owes it to the next link to ensure the authenticity of prod- ucts as they are passed along. The fact that counterfeit
A
products can be inserted into this chain imposes a responsibility on every business, at every step, to protect its customers from harm. Unfortunately, there are
bad actors out there. Fortu - nately, there are reliable tools that can help us perform due diligence to identify and remove them from the supply chain. Basic good business sense requires that we all do so. Utilizing X-ray inspection is an important first-step in the detec- tion of counterfeit product.
Altered and Unaltered Counterfeit semiconductors
and integrated circuits come in two main categories, altered and unaltered product. The ability to detect anomalies in these cate- gories form the foundation of an effective counterfeit detection process. Product which has been altered by someone other than the original manufacturer is the most common type of electronic counterfeit found in today’s sup- ply chain. In 2020, ERAI received 419 reports of suspected counterfeit parts and only two were in the unaltered category. Counterfeiters alter parts for the purpose of deception and misrep- resentation. Altered product includes
parts that have been refurbished to appear as new, remarked to create a homogenous lot and date code. Typically, this catego- ry is made up of used parts
s electronic components travel through the com- plex, worldwide supply
which may have an original manufactured date spanning decades. If the part is a speed
industry mantra of “buy only from authorized channels” is sound advice and eliminates the
users of electronic components. Anything less simply adds risk and liability.
Case in Point
Glenbrook’s Jewel Box 70 T with GTI-5000 software at Abstract Electronics.
and grade part, the remarking could be done to reflect a faster and higher temperature graded part. Remarking is also per- formed to convert a commercial grade part to a military grade part.
Unaltered product presents
a more difficult challenge as there are no signs of alteration that could be detected using visual or microscope-aided inspections. The markings, leads, and case constructions are in factory-new condition because they are factory-new. Unaltered counterfeits can include factory rejects which somehow were diverted from the dumpster to the back of someone’s car and then end up on the assembly line.
As the level of sophistication
in the manufacturing of counter- feits increases, so must our abili- ty to detect these products. The
need to worry about preventing non-authentic product from entering your build. Unfortun - ately, this does not consider the fact that legacy builds require legacy products. Component man- ufacturers render products obso- lete on a regular basis as demand falls below their acceptable levels. Often this obsolescence offers no direct crosses and forces a redesign that may not be feasible. Additionally, shortages and
long lead-times force users to consider the open market for availability when supply avail- ability doesn’t align with demand or delivery schedules. Product purchased from
unauthorized channels will con- tinue to be a reality as long as these market forces exist. Therefore, implementing an effective counterfeit detection and mitigation process is a necessity for all suppliers and
As a distributor of both fac- tory-authorized and non-author- ized electronic components, the management team at Abstract Electronics understood the need to offer customers a greater level of due diligence when it came to counterfeit detection. If it was to remain a valuable asset to its customers, the company needed to do its part in protecting its assembly lines from suspect product. However, the costs and lead-times associated with out- sourcing enhanced inspections were more than many of its cus- tomers were willing to endure. The company needed to have these abilities in-house and needed to follow the industry guidelines of the AS6081 aero- space standard. An effective counterfeit
detection process begins with knowledgeable inspectors trained to detect signs of part alteration visually. However, not all coun- terfeits can be detected visually and a more in-depth and internal inspection is required. This is where X-ray becomes
extremely useful as it reveals internal anomalies undetectable by visual inspection. X-ray inspection is highly effective in detecting the most common type of counterfeit, the altered part. However, when used properly, it can help in the detection of unal- tered product as well. An X-ray machine offers
value for dollars spent and does not require the user to be an engineer. Adding internal inspection to existing external visual inspection adds another
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