Incidents of counterfeit electronic parts continue at 'record pace'

Counterfeit incidents reported from the beginning of the year through the end of August averaged 107.3 per month, up slightly from 107.1 in 2011. On a sequential 12 month basis, a total of 1,336 separate verified counterfeit part incidents were made for transactions involving a minimum of 834,079 purchased parts. IHS says the figures arrive at a time when the US Department of Defence is scheduled to update acquisition rules. "Counterfeit parts represent a serious and growing risk to the electronics supply chain in general and to the aerospace and defence industry in particular," said Rory King, director of supply chain product marketing at IHS. "Each month that passes, more than a hundred counterfeit incidents comprised of thousands of suspect parts are reported. That's why the spotlight is shining squarely on tighter policies and procedures aimed at counterfeit detection and avoidance."