Distribution
From prototype to final product: traceability and transparency build trust
By Teri Ivaniszyn, vice president, operational excellence, Digi-Key Electronics T
he electronic components supply chain has evolved immensely over the past few years. That’s a good thing, but it also comes with challenges that are driving the need for greater accountability and transparency. These challenges include increased outsourcing to global counterparts and a rise in counterfeit activity. Many companies are understandably desperate to find the chips they badly need, and as a result are turning to new – and sometimes untrustworthy – sources to find them. With the supply chain under immense strain due to shortages of all kinds, including semiconductors, there has unfortunately been a flood of counterfeit products entering the market.
These parts may appear very similar to the authentic version, or even be refurbished components that are sold as new. It can sometimes be difficult to tell the difference, with little details such as packaging
or a “not-quite-right” appearance giving away the inauthenticity. Other times, the differences are undetectable without sophisticated technology.
So how can you protect your company from falling victim to these costly and frustrating counterfeits? The key lies with traceability.
22 September 2021
much easier than in counterfeit parts, curbing the amount of manpower and time spent on correcting an issue.
While discussions and demand for traceability continues to grow, Digi-Key’s commitment to traceability leads the industry. All of our products are genuine, and we
Components in Electronics
Turning to traceable products The importance of traceability in the electronic components supply chain cannot be understated. First, in an era where competition is stiff and gaining consumer confidence is vital, traceability is critical to protecting a brand’s reputation. If a product is recalled or a malfunction occurs during testing, being able to trace the issue back to the manufacturer accurately and quickly can mean the difference between reaffirming customer trust or ruining reputation. As the IoT realm continues to grow - and within the medical, military, aerospace, and automotive industries - the need for greater traceability is increasingly important. In addition to bolstering and maintaining a brand’s reputation, sourcing traceable products can also save companies a considerable amount of money. If any faults arise with a product, the OEM or subcontractor can get a recall notice out quickly – reducing legal costs and mitigating profit loss. Defects with genuine products can also be quarantined
only buy direct from the 1,900 franchised manufacturers we carry in order to ensure the component is new, authentic, and fully warrantable under the direct supplier, and that accurate, up-to-date technical information is readily available. For each of our more than 11.7 million components, Digi-Key holds
documentation valid for 10 years that proves the traceability of the part and its authenticity. These certificates are readily available to any customer upon request.
Additionally, each of our 1,900 vendors undergoes a thorough process when we bring them on to ensure traceability.
Industry regulations and compliance The desire for traceability information has led to the creation of independent organizations and governing bodies that have established standards and certifications that ensure traceability back to the source. The industry is responding by creating new processes for increased transparency and traceability throughout the supply chain. Two of the top industry associations working to address and mitigate this issue are the Counterfeit Avoidance Accreditation Program (CAAP) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Digi-Key is CAAP-certified, meaning that our counterfeit controls have been verified by an external auditing company and that our components are compliant to aerospace standard AS6496. Digi-Key also has controls for disposition, inventory, receiving and customer returns. These controls adhere to AS6496 as well.
on thousands of parts, enables engineers to better organize their components, improve traceability and reduce confusion. In the event that suspect or confirmed counterfeit products are identified in the supply chain, Digi-Key has processes in place to quarantine the products and report the findings to suppliers, customers and the appropriate authorities.
Traceability is the future
Digi-Key is proud to have a growing number of SKUs and suppliers, but our heart and soul remains the same: to support engineers and buyers. One of the most important ways we can do that is by ensuring they have access to the highest quality components on the market. We’re excited about the growing dialogue around traceability and the greater demand for authentic products. We look forward to continuing to equip engineers and makers across the globe with products that are 100 per cent traceable – from prototype to final product.
www.digikey.co.uk www.cieonline.co.uk
Additionally, in March 2021, Digi-Key launched a feature called Part Tracing that prints information directly on select cut tape products. This development, which is available
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