-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- smt007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueCounterfeit Concerns
The distribution of counterfeit parts has become much more sophisticated in the past decade, and there's no reason to believe that trend is going to be stopping any time soon. What might crop up in the near future?
Solder Printing
In this issue, we turn a discerning eye to solder paste printing. As apertures shrink, and the requirement for multiple thicknesses of paste on the same board becomes more commonplace, consistently and accurately applying paste becomes ever more challenging.
A Culture of Thriving
One cannot simply command thriving; it must be nurtured, developed, and encouraged. In this issue, we explore strategies to improve your working relationship model—both internally and externally. In this culture of thriving, your business will grow in the process.
- Articles
- Columns
Search Console
- Links
- Events
||| MENU - smt007 Magazine
ERAI: The Counterfeit Watchdog
October 16, 2024 | Nolan Johnson, SMT007 MagazineEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
Rick Smith is vice president of business development at ERAI, an organization founded in 1995 as a watchdog for the electronic component distribution section, aiming to combat bad business practices and counterfeiting. Rick definitely has some stories to tell about the hows and whys of counterfeiting, and breaks down some compelling numbers when it comes to fake parts being sold into the open market.
Nolan Johnson: Rick, why was ERAI formed?
Rick Smith: ERAI was formed to clean up, police, and promote the electronic component distribution world to the manufacturing community. When we formed, most of the incidents we tracked and reported on were just bad business practices. Shortly after China joined the World Trade Organization in 2000, we received our first report of a counterfeited integrated circuit. Since that time, we have put together the largest known database of counterfeit and non-conforming electronic components, as well as the companies reported for having shipped those components. ERAI also tracks and reports on many other supply chain issues including wire fraud, something that has just exploded in the last couple of years. We provide business, industry, and government intelligence to navigate the supply chain and avoid bad products and bad companies, thereby mitigating risk and preventing loss.
Johnson: Essentially, you're tracking the ethical and non-ethical behavior of suppliers. How did this start?
Smith: Our founder and president, Mark Snider, started a company in the early 1990s as an independent distribution broker. He was appalled by the number of bad actors. It was completely unregulated with quite a bit of financial fraud. For example, you would get an order and ship the parts COD. They would write a check, and the UPS guy would deliver the box. You’d get the check back from UPS in 10 days and 10 days after that, you’d find out the check had bounced.
So, Mark faxed everyone he knew in the industry. He said, “I’m going to stop selling to this guy. I got a stack of bad checks from him.” Lo and behold, he got replies of, “He got us too.” Mark started keeping track of that information and started this organization with the support of companies he had communicated with. He kept track of incidents and trends and sent that out weekly. By 2000, he had a website, and we started getting reports of counterfeit material.
To read the rest of this article, which appeared in the October 2024 issue of SMT007 Magazine, click here.
Suggested Items
Airbus Defence and Space Adapts to Challenging Business Environment
10/16/2024 | Airbus Defence and SpaceAirbus Defence and Space is announcing plans to adapt the Division’s organisation and workforce in light of a continued complex business environment, especially in the Space Systems segment where significant financial charges were recorded in 2023 and 2024.
Ventec Promotes Bill Wang to Group Technical Vice President
10/14/2024 | VentecVentec International Group, a Taiwan Stock Exchange listed global supplier of advanced base materials for the PCB industry worldwide, has promoted Bill Wang to Group Technical Vice President.
SEL Chief Business and Financial Officer Elected Chair of Employee Ownership Commission
10/11/2024 | SELSEL Chief Business and Financial Officer Joey Nestegard was recently elected as Chair of the Washington Employee Ownership Commission.
The Chemical Connection: How We Deal With a Technology Roadmap
10/07/2024 | Don Ball -- Column: The Chemical ConnectionIdeally, we would all be aware of what future technology demands will be, at least for the near future, and take steps to be prepared to meet those demands. For most of us, however, while we may be aware of what’s coming in terms of production requirements, we usually don’t do much to get ready for them until we’re forced to by the market. We generally don’t have the time or personnel to spend on detailed planning or money to purchase any new equipment before it’s needed. So, how do most of us deal with it?
Accenture, NVIDIA Lead Enterprises into Era of AI
10/02/2024 | BUSINESS WIREAccenture and NVIDIA today announced an expanded partnership, including Accenture’s formation of a new NVIDIA Business Group, to help the world’s enterprises rapidly scale their AI adoption.