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Even if the best anti-counterfeiting measure ever invented could be adopted overnight across every electronic component category, the problem of counterfeit components would be slowed rather than stopped.
In reality, the newest parts coming into the supply chain are only half the problem. The other half of incidents include obsolete and end-of-life parts. Adding to the problem, parts are often updated or changed without a Product Change Notification (PCN). When a PCN is issued, it often means that the component in question is immediately unavailable.
The infographic below from SiliconExpert Technologies, a maker of electronic component management tools, outlines the ways that today's system of electronic component life cycle play into the issue of counterfeit components.
Let us know how your organization monitors parts obsolescences in the comments section below.
— Hailey Lynne McKeefry, Editor in Chief, EBN 
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- Building a Defense to Confound Counterfeiters
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- Crowdsourcing the Counterfeiting Problem
- New DARPA Program Targets Bootleg Components
- Xilinx/Flextronics Suit Shines Light on the Gray Market
Supply Chain: Counterfeit Incidents and Sporadic Lifecycle Changes in the Electronics Industry via Cool Daily Infographics
In some products that use EOL parts, there is a need to re-design with new active parts. However, if companies would like to product some quantities (or they are informed of EOL too late), they have to source it somewhere else, there is a high chance they would get counterfeiting ones.
I think that reality, @t.alex, points to a need for independant distributors who do component testing and manage incominc supply in predetermined ways to ensure no counterfeits. That, unfortunately, adds a lot to the cost of the parts.
The life cycle of components is a significant problem, particularly in the defense industry. Many of the electronic systems produced in the military sector take a substantially longer time to develop, test, and deploy than most commercial applications. In some cases, components need to be hardened, tested, or screened to ensure that they will meet the environmental requirements specified for the systems. As such, once all of the compoments have been chosen, tested, and approved, component obsolescence becomes a major issue. Often, the life cycle of the resulting military hardware is long, futher contributing to the problem.
The statistic in the article states that 52% of couterfeit problems involve obsolete parts, That makes sense – counterfeiters can take advantage of the lack of supply for the desired component, and the customer's judgement can be clouded.
Hailey,
That's a very accurate point.
As it is one can't easily come across/Procure EOL parts easily and so those that do have them tend to tack a premium on them.
Problem with this approach is that if the Costs rise too much;Consumers will either chose to skip the Whole Upgrade process or just delay it indefinitely(for better or worse).
And then in the future,when you can't get the right part? That's when all the real trouble starts.
Hailey,
What's the Really good thing about this data is that it clearly shows that the latest and most demand components are not counterfeited that frequently by the Cheats.
Which means,all that R&D Effort that companies pour in to design the Latest Products does'nt go waste.
Felt Good to know.
Everyone seems to think that auto electronics is a booming market. Many semicon companies for example are promoting this part of their portfolio a lot more these days. I like the IoT too as that is obviosly a massive opportunity for everyone once the interoperability issues are resolved.
Everyone seems to think that auto electronics is a booming market. Many semicon companies for example are promoting this part of their portfolio a lot more these days. I like the IoT too as that is obviosly a massive opportunity for everyone once the interoperability issues are resolved.
Regardless of the product or service that is being made the centre of attention, there will still be a counterfeit market catering just to it. This is totally inevitable just like how various other black markets are still out there in the open. They are readily accessible by parties who seek them so we cannot control them as much as we would want to. Thus, manufacturers need to know exactly who their suppliers are and where do they receive their components from in order not to allow any counterfeit from making their way in their factories.
Regardless of the product or service that is being made the centre of attention, there will still be a counterfeit market catering just to it. This is totally inevitable just like how various other black markets are still out there in the open. They are readily accessible by parties who seek them so we cannot control them as much as we would want to. Thus, manufacturers need to know exactly who their suppliers are and where do they receive their components from in order not to allow any counterfeit from making their way in their factories.