What Is AS6081?

26 February 2024

AS6081: Fraudulent/Counterfeit Electronic Parts: Avoidance, Detection, Mitigation, and Disposition.

Why it's important to Whistler Technology and our customers

The aerospace and defence sectors have experienced cases where counterfeit electronic parts were discovered in critical systems, leading to investigations, part replacements, and increased emphasis on supply chain security. As a result, incidents of fraudulent and counterfeit electronic parts have been a significant concern in the aerospace and defence industries. In response to these challenges, industry standards like AS6081 have been developed to establish best practices for avoiding, detecting, mitigating and disposing of fraudulent and counterfeit electronic parts in the supply chain.

AS6081 is a standard developed by the SAE

SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) created the standard to specifically address the issue of counterfeit electronic parts in the aerospace and defence industries. Companies adhering to the AS6081 standard implement stricter supply chain management practices, increased scrutiny of suppliers and improved testing and authentication procedures to minimise the risk of encountering counterfeit electronic components.

The AS6081 standard minimises the risk of counterfeit electronic components

The aerospace and defence industries rely heavily on electronic components, and the presence of counterfeit parts poses significant risks, including potential failure of critical systems. Its aim is to reduce the risk of incorporating counterfeit electronic parts into their systems, thereby enhancing the safety and reliability of their products. It's worth noting that standards like AS6081 are part of a broader industry effort to address the challenges posed by counterfeit electronic components. Other standards and practices include ERAI, AS9120, and ISO9001, as well as bespoke industry and customer standards.

Key elements of AS6081 include:

Risk Mitigation Strategies: The standard outlines strategies for avoiding, detecting, and mitigating the risks associated with counterfeit electronic parts throughout the supply chain.

Supplier Management: AS6081 emphasises the importance of establishing effective supplier management processes to ensure the authenticity of electronic components. This involves rigorous screening and monitoring of suppliers.

Traceability: The standard encourages the establishment of traceability systems to track the flow of electronic parts through the supply chain. This helps in identifying and eliminating counterfeit parts.

Testing and Inspection: AS6081 provides guidance on testing and inspection processes to verify the authenticity of electronic components. This includes using various techniques and technologies to detect counterfeit parts.

Documentation: Proper documentation is crucial in the fight against counterfeit electronic parts. AS6081 specifies documentation requirements to ensure that relevant information about the components and their sources is maintained.

Reducing the risk of incorporating counterfeit electronic parts into critical systems

Adherence to the guidelines outlined in AS6081, aerospace and defence organisations reduces the risk of incorporating counterfeit electronic parts into critical systems. Counterfeit electronic components enter the supply chain through various means, including unauthorised distributors, substandard manufacturers, or intentional misrepresentation of the part's origin and authenticity.

Some common issues associated with counterfeit electronic parts include:

Reliability Concerns: Counterfeit components may not meet the same quality and reliability standards as genuine parts. This can lead to unexpected failures, especially in mission-critical applications where system reliability is paramount.

Safety Risks: In the aerospace and defence industries, safety is of utmost importance. The use of counterfeit electronic parts can compromise the safety of aircraft, military equipment, and other critical systems.

Increased Costs: Dealing with the consequences of counterfeit parts, such as system failures or recalls, can result in significant financial costs for organisations in terms of replacements, investigations, and potential damage to reputation.

Impact on National Security: The use of counterfeit parts in defence systems can have national security implications. It may compromise the effectiveness and reliability of military equipment.

AS6081 and other standards have been developed in response to these challenges, and embed best practices for avoiding, detecting, mitigating, and disposing of fraudulent and counterfeit electronic parts. Whistler Technology is committed to industry-leading component testing and quality standards. We are a highly accredited team of procurement experts and have invested significantly in anti-counterfeit testing to Whistler Assured, AS6081 Level A, SPOC 419 or bespoke customer standards. We provide a fully evidenced process and the retention of key requirements including, source, cure dates, RoHS, Reach, ITAR and conflict mineral supplier declarations.

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