The Challenge

A global automotive audio systems manufacturing company supplying for installation in to premium luxury cars, was facing issues with disruption in supply-chain and difficulties in sourcing critical integrated circuits (ICs) through its established procurement channel. The client has identified the alternate vendors and a new lot of ICs became available, but new problems have risen with the new lot “Which vendor should we trust?” “How can we trust their ICs?”

The selection of genuine vendor has become more critical when there are no visual artifacts observed and all the ICs similar and look alike with genuine ICs.

All ICs supplied by the various vendors appeared to be consistent with the expected part, but appearance alone could not provide sufficient technical confidence for vendor and lot qualification.

The client wants to avoid the issues with premature failures post installation within warranty period. The client therefore approached Nishka Research to conduct an independent comparative investigation and identify the suitable vendor for specific ICs.

The solution – Known-original ICs vs. Counterfeit ICs

A counterfeit or misrepresented IC does not necessarily look obviously different.

Modern suspect components can potentially involve:

• Remarking
• Repackaging
• Refurbished components
• Resurfacing
• Misidentified part numbers
• Recovered/reclaimed components
• Mixed or uncontrolled lots
• Substitution

Consequently, matching the part number, logo or package appearance is not sufficient on its own to establish authenticity.

Rather than relying on a single test, we have developed a comparative analytical workflow designed to examine the ICs from multiple independent perspectives. The objective was to identify any significant differences in the physical dimensions, surface characteristics, marking behavior, morphology, elemental composition and material chemistry that could indicate an authenticity or conformity concern. This approach is consistent with the philosophy of the SAE AS6171 family of standards for suspect/counterfeit EEE parts, where multiple inspection and test methods are selected according to risk.

The Client’s Benefits

Nishka Research has helped client to obtain comparative analytical evidence to support the evaluation of an alternate IC vendors and the suitability of the supplied lot. With the help Nishka Research client has managed to maintain their quality standards in spite of supply-chain disruptions. The data generated by Nishka Research has been used as technical evidence and incorporated into incoming inspection, supplier assessment and lot acceptance procedures, thereby enhancing Stronger Quality Assurance protocols.

Now the client has well established approach in identifying differences between Counterfeit and genuine ICs if required we have developed protocols for further investigation before components enter production.