Counterfeit Parts Still An Issue For Military Equipment

In 2012 the Senate Armed Services Committee of the United States released a report identifying a massive number of imported counterfeit Chinese electronic parts being used in U.S. military equipment.

According to the report, more than 70% of an estimated one million suspected counterfeit parts were imported from China. The second and third largest sources for fake parts were the United Kingdom and Canada. The report also highlighted that counterfeit parts were found in helicopters and planes used by the United States Navy.

Some three years after the report, combatting counterfeit parts continue to be a significant focus for the defense and aerospace industry. Supply chain members are focusing on maintaining and improving product traceability in addition to cutting out unknown and unreliable suppliers. The failure of a single electronic part in any military vehicles could not only result in higher overall costs, but also cause injuries, mission failure, reduced dependability and product recall. Most importantly for the manufacturing community, it could result in the loss of contracts, and the shutdown of manufacturing lines.

A Trusted Source for Mil-Spec Components

As a recognized quality leader in the manufacturing and distribution industries, bisco is a trusted source for military specification (mil-spec) components. Our counterfeit detection process flags outdated cage codes and date codes, requiring a stringent validation and authentication process.  In addition, bisco’s AS9100/ISO9001 certified quality management system ensures that even the highest-level client requirements are met. To learn more about bisco’s quality management system and our value added services contact your local bisco representative.