Counterfeit Mitigation
Counterfeit electronic components continue to challenge industries worldwide. Honest Components safeguards your supply chain by sourcing only from verified suppliers and using accredited third-party testing. Our commitment to authenticity, transparency, and rigorous inspection ensures every component you receive is genuine, reliable, and compliant with global quality standards.
New and original microchips are harder and harder to find, especially ‘end-of-life’ or obsolete components. Chip recycling is big business in China. Annually it is a multi-billion dollar industry and is very closely guarded. The small microchip recycling house in this video generates approximately $1M each year. The majority of the boards are from the USA and Russia. This video shows how microchips are being harvested. Most of the boards are stored outside in open air, with water damage, with absolutely no ESD protection.
Counterfeit parts have become an increasing problem in every industry that uses electronic components, including commercial, industrial, automotive, military, and aerospace sectors. These counterfeit parts are now highly sophisticated and can often pass both visual and electrical testing. The military estimates that up to 15 percent of all spare and replacement parts for its equipment are counterfeit, increasing the risk of dangerous malfunctions. This growing threat highlights the need for more advanced testing and verification methods to detect counterfeits.
Some distributors operate their own test labs and claim their capabilities are sufficient to prevent counterfeit materials from passing through. They may even hold ISO9001 and AS9120 certifications, which can give a false sense of security. However, certification alone does not guarantee that counterfeit mitigation is properly executed or maintained.
To ensure true reliability, distributors must be certified to AS6081 test methods, including functional electrical testing. Independent third-party test labs provide unbiased verification and eliminate conflicts of interest. If a distributor does not permit independent third-party testing, customers should proceed with caution — buyer beware.
