ERAI Blog
Kristal Snider
02/12/2019
This message is a warning to any organization involved in the purchase of electronic components. ERAI has identified numerous websites run by malicious individuals that are paying for premium placement on Google and require payment in advance for goods but never ship the ordered product. These sites have been set up with the intent to commit fraud. Dozens of victims have come forward sharing nearly identical experiences.
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Anne-Liese Heinichen
01/24/2019
Independent distributor Rogelio Vasquez, aka Roger Vasquez aka James Harrison, pleaded guilty on December 27, 2018 to knowingly supplying counterfeit parts to the US military including parts that were historically used in military applications including the B-1 Lancer Bomber aircraft. If the counterfeit ICs had been used in the B-1, they, “would have likely caused impairment of the combat operations, or other significant harm to a combat operation because a failure of the counterfeit ICs would impact the B-1’s operational capabilities."
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Anne-Liese Heinichen
11/14/2018
In recent months, ERAI has noted an increase in unsolicited emails that contain malicious software attachments. Malicious software, or “malware”, can be used to steal personal and/or corporate information and commit fraud for financial and economic gains by individuals, corporations, criminals, terrorists or governments. ERAI has added a new type of alert to the ERAI database to warn ERAI subscribers of this potential risk.
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Anne-Liese Heinichen
08/09/2018
As a response to China’s “unfair” trade practices related to the transfer of American intellectual property and technology, a 25% tariff went into effect on July 6, 2018. The tariff covers 818 product types, as defined by their corresponding Harmonized Tariff Schedule (“HTS”) codes, manufactured in China and imported into the United States. This article aims to clarify how the tariff is assessed and applied by US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) and provides sample scenarios and additional information in a question and answer format.
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07/11/2018
On October 30, 2016, SAE International released aerospace standard AS6171 in order to standardize "inspection and test procedures, workmanship criteria, and minimum training and certification requirements to detect Suspect/Counterfeit (SC) Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical (EEE) parts." The standard is intended to be implemented on parts that do not have traceability to the Original Component Manufacturer, on parts that have been purchased from brokers or independent distributors, or parts where the end user is concerned about the potential of suspect counterfeit parts.
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Kristal Snider
06/18/2018
In the Q2-2016 edition of INSIGHT, readers were encouraged to become familiar with and support H.R. 5579, the Secure-E-waste Export Recycling Act (SEERA), a bill that was introduced to control the export of electronic waste in order to ensure that such waste does not become a source of counterfeit goods that may reenter military and civilian electronics supply chains. Along with two previous bipartisan bills, H.R. 2284 and H.R. 2791, Responsible Electronics Recycling Act, H.R. 5579 fell short of becoming a law or “died” in the 114th Congress. A bill must be passed by both the House and Senate in identical form and then be signed by the President to become law. Legislation not enacted by the end of a Congress is cleared from the books. On February 7, 2017 H.R. 917: Secure E-Waste Export and Recycling Act, picked up where H.R. 5579 left off and was introduced into the 115th Congress where it was referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
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Damir Akhoundov
06/14/2018
ERAI reported a total of 771 suspect counterfeit and nonconforming parts in 2017, which shows a marked decline from the last several years, despite an increase in global semiconductor sales. The decline, while interesting in itself, cannot be considered a change in the overall trend without taking into consideration data from future years. Factors that could cause this decline include better anti-counterfeiting procedures taken by organizations during the procurement process, more counterfeit parts being prevented from entering the supply chain through customs seizures and detentions, lack of enforcement of industry and government reporting requirements, and perhaps, some counterfeiters have reduced their activities due to improved and new counterfeit detection techniques. On the other hand, it may also indicate that more sophisticated counterfeiting techniques are resulting in fewer counterfeit parts being detected and, therefore, reported to ERAI. It will be interesting to see if this trend persists through 2018 or whether the decline was only temporary.
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Kristal Snider
05/02/2018
InterCEPT has launched two new classes to supplement your organization’s training requirements. Each class features handouts of the course material, quizzes, a final exam, and a certificate of completion that can easily be verified by an auditor or customer on ERAI’s website.
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Anne-Liese Heinichen
02/19/2018
In March 2011, the Fukushima disaster resulted in global supply disruptions of silicon wafers, automotive parts and other electronic assemblies. In February 2015, a structural fire destroyed the main plant at a GE Aviation facility located in Dowty in the UK. The facility was the sole manufacturer of propellers for Lockheed Martin’s C-130J aircraft. While we have all heard the saying “don’t put all of your eggs in one basket”, has your organization identified, documented, analyzed and prepared for a supply interruption, especially for parts from a single source of supply?
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Kristal Snider
02/14/2018
Nichia Corporation published a press release alerting customers a “large number” of counterfeit Nichia laser diode products have entered the supply chain.
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