Counterfeit components seeping into the supply chain can be a real threat for many industries. Military and aerospace industries recognized this threat years ago. Old PC boards served as a parts source. The components were plucked from the boards, cleaned up and marketed as new. They were often said to be of a high quality (Mil -Spec) even though their structure and electrical reliability had been compromised.
The industry responded by educating its members via symposiums and creating of a family of industry standards. AS5553 was the first counterfeit mitigation standard, targeted toward users and installers of electronic components. By following its recommendations, a company could deploy better purchasing, inspection and obsolescence control practices. Test labs learned how to detect counterfeits and the supply chain began to differentiate between authorized and independent distribution as part of risk control.
