In the age of globalized manufacturing, the supply chain of electronic components has grown more complex than ever. The gray market presents an opportunity for counterfeit electronic parts to enter the system, potentially leading to fatal incidents.
This blog will present the argument for why SAE standard AS6171 is currently regarded as the most accepted and comprehensive methodology to detect and ensure counterfeit EEE components do not enter critical products and systems current.

On June 12th, 2023, the Defense Microelectronics Activity (DMEA) released the Final Report on Machine Vision Pilot (MVP) and Microelectronic Authenticity and Security, Evaluation and Research (MASER). The project team was made up of contributors from The Defense Microelectronics Activity (DMEA), the Center for Advanced Life Cycle Engineering (CALCE) at the University of Maryland at College Park, the University of Maryland College Park, and SMT Corp. The full report can be read at MVP Maser Report. A summary of key findings regarding Machine-Vision technology and EEE counterfeit parts policy can be found at Summary of DMEA.

In April of 2023, Revision A of SAE Standard AS6081 for Counterfeit EEE parts, which governs the Avoidance, Detection, Mitigation, and Disposition of EEE Parts for Independent Distributors, was released. Amongst the changes in the standard was paragraph B.1.4, Test and Inspection Requirements. As a result of this change, the AS6081A standard now requires the supplier, in this case the independent distributor, to “comply with the inspection and test requirements of AS6171, to the extent specified by the [procuring] organization”. The historical version of AS6081, now superseded in its entirety by AS6081A, included test methods that were specific to AS6081. AS6081A no longer defines test methods unique to AS6081 and now references AS6171 for test and inspection methods. This paper from SMT Corp., the industry leader in counterfeit EEE parts mitigation, responds to your questions about what this means to your organization.

Counterfeit electronic parts in the supply chain continues to grow in volume and sophistication, resulting in increased risk to defense and aerospace systems, as well as other critical infrastructure including communications, transportation, medical, energy, and the financial sector. This report from SMT Corp., the industry leader in counterfeit electronic parts mitigation, assesses the latest trends in electronics counterfeiting and counterfeit mitigation, as well as the market, policies, and implications of counterfeit electronic parts in the critical infrastructure supply chain.