Counterfeit parts prevention for manufacturers | FactoryQA

A counterfeit part is an unauthorized copy, imitation or substitute, or a used part passed off as new. Electronic components get the most attention, but fasteners, bearings, raw material and other commodity parts are counterfeited too. In aerospace and defense the consequences are serious enough that AS9100D makes counterfeit parts prevention an explicit requirement (clause 8.1.4).

What the requirement covers

AS9100D asks you to plan and implement processes that prevent counterfeit or suspect counterfeit parts from being used and from reaching your customer. In practice that means training people to recognise the risk, buying from trustworthy sources, verifying what you receive, controlling suspect parts, and reporting them. Your customers may add their own requirements through purchase order flow-downs, so check those too.

Buy from the right sources

• Buy from the original manufacturer or its authorized distributors whenever you can.
• When a part is obsolete or only available from independent distributors, treat it as higher risk: require documentation, traceability and testing.
• Keep the approval scope on your approved supplier list specific, and flow your counterfeit parts requirements down to your suppliers.

Verify on receipt

• Certificates of conformance and, where available, traceability back to the original manufacturer
• Visual inspection of markings, packaging and labels against known good examples
• Testing proportionate to the risk, from simple checks to lab analysis for high-risk parts

Control and report suspect parts

Quarantine suspect parts, record them as nonconforming product and do not return them to the supplier where they could re-enter the supply chain. Investigate how they got in, raise a corrective action, and report as your customer and any applicable reporting systems require.

Train the people involved

Purchasing, receiving inspection and stores staff are your first line of defense. Keep training records, and refresh the training as risks change.