To mitigate the risk of potential losses and avoid quality assurance issues, it is crucial for OEM and EMS enterprises to choose an electronic component supplier and distributor who utilizes a robust quality management system (QMS). An effective QMS should take in-depth measures to define quality standards, garner certifications for quality assurance, maintain standards through a quality control program and finally, take quality inspection measures to ensure products are up to quality standards, free of defects, and not suspect counterfeit components.
As technology continues to evolve, there has been a recent uptick in the number of counterfeit and subpar parts flooding the market, making it even more important to verify the quality of the components buyers are ordering from distributors. When vetting a component supplier or distributor, take note of their QMS’ quality standards, quality assurance, quality control, and quality inspection programs to ensure the health of the electronic component supply chain.
1. Quality Standards:
Every industry comes with its own set of unique quality standards. As these standards grow and change over time, so should the quality assurance practices and certifications for component distributors. To protect the electronic component supply chain, component suppliers and distributors should follow industry standards and have a number of certifications under their belt, relevant to the industries they serve. In this space, the Independent Distributors of Electronics Association (IDEA), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and the Components Technology Institute, Inc. (CTI) are the leading voices in quality standards for the components industry. It is crucial to choose a components supplier or distributor that adheres to these strict standards and other quality assurance metrics.
2. Quality Assurance:
An integral part of a quality management system is quality assurance. Quality assurance procedures provide a plan for component suppliers to follow, meaning end-customers receive the best products possible. ISO 9001:2015 certifications show a company's ability to consistently meet high-standards and provide products that meet both customer expectations and regulatory requirements. This shows that organizations are continuing to better their offerings to keep up with changing industry trends.
3. Quality Control:
Meeting and exceeding client expectations is made possible through measurable quality control standards. Quality control provides a baseline for component suppliers and distributors to identify the cause of any poor products and guarantees the problem is not repeated for future buyers. With strong quality control measures in place, component suppliers and distributors can prevent the flow of subpar or counterfeit components into the supply chain, thus protecting OEM and EMS organizations from receiving quality control complaints from their customers. To ensure a supplier or distributor meets their customers’ quality control requirements, look for certifications like AS9120B, IDEA-QMS-9090, and CCAP - 101.
4. Quality Inspection:
Inspections are an integral piece of a quality management system, and ensure that the components received are legitimate, and in proper working order for their later use. Sensible Micro is proud to house an inspection and test lab on-site, fitted with advanced anti-counterfeit inspection machinery. Our inspectors are all IDEA-ICE-3000 certified, ensuring all audits are completed with skill and confidence. On top of offering our customers general counterfeit avoidance testing, an IDEA-STD-1010 72-point visual confirmation is performed on every order before it ships, so our customers can have confidence in the parts they source from us.
Sensible Micro’s Commitment to Quality Components:
At Sensible Micro, we’re proud to use an advanced Quality Management System (QMS) to monitor both suppliers and quality assurance metrics in real-time for each of our clients. Each of our customers’ orders is inspected for quality and validity. Our process involves strict quality standards, and we keep our certifications up-to-date and valid to continue to provide our customers with the highest quality components.
Partner with Sensible Micro Corporation and see the difference quality assurance can make.
