Reducing electronic component risk with advanced testing and standards
4Star Electronics’ director of operations, Scott McKee, outlines how AS5553 and AS6171 support electronic component authentication and counterfeit mitigation efforts
Counterfeiting in the electronic component industry is a rapidly evolving problem with the current stresses such as increasing end-of-life/obsolescence notices and large-scale shortages, only compounding the problem. Luckily, as counterfeiting has gotten more sophisticated, so have the standards and tools required to combat it. High quality independent distributors are well positioned to face counterfeiting issues by either partnering with world-class labs or by building internal labs to integrate high-level tools into their processes.
In 2009, the SAE released AS5553 ‘Counterfeit Electrical, Electronic and Electromechanical (EEE) Parts; Avoidance, Detection, Mitigation, and Disposition’ to standardize the requirements and practices to mitigate counterfeit parts in the aerospace, defense and automotive supply chains. In addition to those industries, this standard can be used by any organization that procures and utilizes EEE parts.
Key poilts in AS5553:
Risk assessment to determine the likelihood and impact of receiving a counterfeit electronic part
Evaluating suppliers to ensure they can provide authentic parts, with a preference for original component manufacturers (OCMs) or their authorized distributors
Requiring traceability to the OCM for all parts to verify authenticity and conformance
Implementing specific inspection and test protocols to authenticate parts, when purchased from the open market
Mandating that counterfeit mitigation requirements and standards are flowed down to all levels of the supply chain
Quarantine and reporting of suspect counterfeit parts to prevent them from re-entering the supply chain
The most recent update to AS5553, revision E, was released in November 2025 and focuses on reducing implementation costs and updating the processes for traceability, inspection and risk assessment. Specifically, the standard points to the test method standard, AS6171, for detailed inspection and test protocols for open market parts. This is vitally important since the only source of obsolete parts or during a shortage is often those in the open market, where traceability has not been maintained.
Integration of AS6171 as a replacement of the older inspection standards has shifted the industry from simple visual inspection toward a much more data-driven and risk-based approach.
Over the past several years, test labs and some leading independent distributors have achieved accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025, with AS6171 test methods included in the scope:
Review of packaging and documentation
External visual inspections, including surface analysis and marking tests
Digital photographs and high-magnification microscopy
X-ray and XRF analysis
Decapsulation/delid physical analysis
Electrical characterization
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
Acoustic microscopy
Although the AS standards are targeted to the high-reliability world of automotive, aerospace and defense electronics, the principles apply just as well to the commercial and industrial sectors. OEMs and contract manufacturers all have need for obsolete and hard-to-find parts, especially during times of parts shortages, so they need to choose vendors wisely to limit open market sources to trusted independent distributors who understand the risks inherent in the supply chain.
In addition, utilizing distributors and test labs that are fully accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 with AS6171 to conduct detailed inspection and test based on thorough risk assessments will ensure that current best practices are used and the material is as safe as possible.
www.4starelectronics.com
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