Component procurement is built on trust. You need to know that the components you’re sourcing are authentic, quality products that will arrive intact and at the time specified, guaranteed. So why, then, are so many electronic component procurement strategies built around budget savings and low price points?
The secret sauce that’s missing is a trust checklist. Every electronic component sourcing effort should start first with trust, and only then move forward to comparing costs between your shortlist of vetted, qualified, trustworthy distributors and/or suppliers.
Here’s a checklist to use as inspiration or get you started. Fine-tune it to suit your own priorities or the unique needs of your company, and start your component procurement from a place of confidence:
The Trust Checklist
- Transparent, High-Traceability Sourcing
Fully transparent, traceable sourcing gives you the confidence you need to trust your procurement partner. Put your trust into digital platforms that rigorously document tracking information, quality inspections, testing reports, and the precise sources of all components. For instance, Sensible Micro provides an e-commerce platform with streamlined access to all of this data and more through a simple web portal. This sort of paper trail eliminates the guesswork in your procurement strategy.
- Offers Counterfeit Testing
Authenticity must be actively checked, not just verbally guaranteed. Don’t work with a procurement partner unless they offer full component testing for 100% of their products (which may include a fee, depending on the tests involved). Tests can include a combination of visual and chemical techniques, but counterfeiters are getting better every year. Currently, the only 100% reliable way to verify a part is with decapsulation and analysis of the die.
- In-House Laboratory
If your distributor has a cutting-edge in-house lab at their disposal, you have the flexibility to customize your testing regimen and the additional trust that there’s no middle-man. Our technically advanced inspection lab at Sensible Micro features top industry equipment and supports a wide range of procedures. We’re even prepared to help you design a General Counterfeit Avoidance Test (GCAT) that suits your precise needs. Contact us for more specifics.
- IDEA Certified
Certifications are proof that your procurement partner is in compliance with widely adopted industry standards. At Sensible Micro, we only use IDEA-ICE-3000 certified inspectors in component testing and employ the 72-point IDEA-STD-1010-B visual confirmation procedure (preferred in the industry, as cited in AS5553).
- Fully Vetted Network of Suppliers
Authorized lines are the gold standard, but they can’t service all electronic component procurement strategy needs. If you need niche, older, obsolete, or hard-to-find components, or only a small quantity, it may be more feasible to work with an independent or factory direct supplier. Ensure that your procurement partner closely monitors all vendors and has a defined vetting process to ensure that they’re meeting expectations for quality and authenticity. Sensible Micro spent 15 years scrubbing and refining our ideal base of vendors and evaluating them with a robust rating system so that our customers can trust every line we work with.
- Product Liability, Errors & Omissions Insurance
Your distributor should protect you from mistakes, no matter whether they came from unintentional errors or unpredictable accidents. Insurance is a worthy investment in any component procurement strategy, to ensure the security of your investment and insulate you from any issues in ordering, shipping, or logistics.
Prioritize Trust In Your Component Procurement Strategy
We know how much trust, reliability, and authenticity matter in the electronic components industry—especially today. If you’re tired of comparing and evaluating component sourcing solutions, save yourself the headache and work with a hybrid distributor with an extensive card of fully vetted authorized, independent, and direct lines as well as one of the most advanced inspection labs in the industry. Our team at Sensible Micro is proud to serve our partners the components they want with the confidence they need.
