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The balance of (purchasing) power But as adoption in other industries and applications has risen rapidly, the balance of power has shiſted. As demand ramped up, the rate of innovation among chip producers accelerated (illustrated by Moore’s Law), while sales volumes helped drive down costs. Defence firms benefited from both these developments, and over time, defence-specific development programmes for components and systems were commonly replaced by reliance on COTS technologies – resulting in cost-savings, shorter lead times and more rapid access to technology improvements. As broad industry adoption exploded (especially in computing, first
with personal computing, then mobile devices, as well as networking and communications – but also throughout automotive), the purchasing power of defence and aerospace firms (who needed relatively far smaller volumes) has declined. Development cycles for consumer products are typically much faster, based on the assumption that they will be replaced by faster, smaller, cheaper technology every few years, driving chip suppliers to reduce support for, and even abandon, older, lower-demand legacy products more rapidly. But most aerospace and defence projects run counterintuitively to this
approach, with the requirement for far longer usable product lifecycles (driven by massive engineering efforts to create expensive hardware and the subsequent need to support it in the field) meaning they typically seek to prolong the lifespan and availability of components, resulting in hard-to-manage supply chain challenges. As technology evolves at faster rates than defence and aerospace manufacturers need or can accommodate in their product lifecycles, the legacy chips and components they rely on become more expensive to both produce and source leading to the problem known as DMSMS (diminishing manufacturing sources and material shortages) and/or resulting in obsolescence. Tis then endangers the lifecycle support and viability of equipment
and systems, as components are superseded by the next generation and must be designed out. On top of this, demanding specs (oſten with associated qualification and approvals), the high-reliability (hi-rel) components required and the mission-critical nature of most aerospace and defence applications means there are oſten limited alternatives available that can perform at the level or for the length of time required.
Supply chain resilience Te last few years have further highlighted vulnerabilities, risks and fragilities in the complex global supply chains we all now rely on. Te lockdowns and unprecedented global shock of COVID-19 have obviously been a significant factor (especially for supply chains that have become over-reliant on East Asia) but other disruptions have also become more frequent and severe. Tese have included natural disasters (from wildfires and ice storms to droughts, earthquakes and floods), plant fires, shipping lane blockages, escalating US-China trade tensions and even Brexit, unbalancing finely tuned just-in-time supply chains. Russia’s war in Ukraine has added soaring energy costs and escalating concerns about energy security, as well as restricting access to raw materials, components and services from either region. As a result, governments, corporations and the defence industry alike
have acquired a renewed appreciation of the critical nature of healthy, resilient, diverse and secure supply chains. Tis was reflected in a recent
US DOD (Department of Defense) report, ‘Securing Defense-Critical Supply Chains’, an action plan formulated in response to President Biden’s Executive Order 14017 (America’s Supply Chains). In the UK, the MOD (Ministry of Defence) has also launched its own Defence Supply Chain Strategy, addressing the same challenges.
Specialist independent distributors As defence and aerospace procurement teams seek to manage these complex supply chain challenges, and with broadline and franchise distributors more regularly now experiencing and quoting excessive lead times, firms are increasingly turning to brokers and specialist independent distributors. Princeps provides traceable electronic, electromechanical and electrical (EEE) components to OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) and suppliers in aerospace and defence (as well as other hi-rel and advanced industries). And when traceable parts are not an option, either because they are obsolete, unavailable or subject to excessively long lead times, Princeps offers a range of risk- mitigated options for sourcing and testing open market parts supplied under its certified Counterfeit Mitigation Plan. Princeps holds both AS9120 and AS6081 accreditations (with
extensive in-house testing and inspection capabilities) and offers assured counterfeit mitigation and obsolescence management, as well as kitting and vendor tail management services, specialising in difficult-to-source EEE components and problem-solving of complex and challenging supply chain issues. AS9120 and AS6081 certifications provide a robust best practice framework of risk management for specialist independent distributors operating in the aerospace, defence and security sectors. AS9120, the aviation industry's quality management standard
for distributors, ensures compliance with stringent regulations and satisfies customer flow downs (including AS5553), while AS6081 focuses specifically on counterfeit avoidance. By adhering to these standards, distributors can establish and demonstrate effective quality control measures, helping customers assure product safety, efficiency and reliability by guaranteeing that the components sourced from them are genuine, as well as guarding against the infiltration of fraudulent, counterfeit or substandard parts into the aerospace and defence supply chain. Te risks that counterfeit or fraudulent electronic components
pose should not be underestimated and continue to be a significant and increasing problem for procurement managers, especially during ongoing component shortages. As one of only a handful of UK-based distributors to hold the AS6081 accreditation, Princeps has invested heavily in its testing and verification laboratory, recently adding £150,000 worth of new equipment. “Even with our stringent procedures and in-depth knowledge of
the global components marketplace, we are uncovering an average of one or two fraudulent or counterfeit items every month,” warns Ian Walker, Princeps operations director. “Tis demonstrates the level of vigilance necessary, especially when trying to source obsolete parts. When sourcing through Princeps, customers are assured of component authenticity through a range of risk mitigation solutions, including fully bespoke test and inspection plans following AS6081, AS6171 or any of the other methodologies available.”
www.electronicsworld.co.uk September 2024 33
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