Control Quality by Choosing Reliable Suppliers

For OEM and EMS, the best way to eliminate quality problem should be corporation with approved distributors which have strict quality standards. Usually, traders (small middleman) do not have or do not want to invest money to make sure the products quality they purchase and sell.

 

“To ensure quality, e Farnell directly purchases parts from manufacturers,” said Omar Ping Gary, “We would never buy counterfeit in the gray market. This is the quality assurance we promised with our brand.”

 

CEO of Smith & Associates in Asia-Pacific, Brun noted when buying electronic components in the open market, considerations for suppliers should include the following aspects:

 

Industry Certification

Industry certification is provided by the third party, to prove that suppliers meet industry standards and perform prescribed operational procedures. For instance, ISO is an accredited standards organization auditing supplier ability. Currently, Smith & Associates has the following industry certification: ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ANSI-ESD, ISO/IEC 17025, AS9120及CCAP-101.

 

Supplier selection and management

Powerful selection and management system is the first line of defense for independent distributors countering shoddy products. Choosing suppliers need screening, eligibility verification and ongoing assessments. 

 

Internal testing capabilities

Another way to improve quality control ability is in-house testing component reliability and function. Independent distributors should strictly comply with the screening procedures, including inspection and testing improvement. A multi-step test can identify substandard and counterfeit parts, and avoid them from entering supply chain.

 

Industry certification, such as ISO/ IEC17025, notes laboratory has capacity to offer qualified testing services.

 

Based on experience, Eric Xie, general manager of Mogultech International Ltd, divides quality management into three parts. First: harsh channel management capabilities, strict threshold to entry, and 10-level management of spot suppliers; second: quality team building to check the purchase of inspection equipment and provide technical quality assurance. Third: hire original and third-party professional to test incoming with professional quality equipment; meanwhile, introduce authoritative third-party quality management as a supplement. If necessary, Mogultech would offer customers authoritative test report issued by third-party.

 

Early in 2006, Independent distributor of Electronics Association（IDEA）has introduced electronic components quality inspection standard (named IDEA-STD-1010-A), providing a clear inspection criteria to assess the quality of components.

 

Zhu Xu said “The standard solves visual inspection technology and product acceptance criteria as well as other critical problems. Strictly complying with the standard, plus ISO9001 quality control system, testing warehousing of goods, photo archive and preserving retrospective file, distributors can achieve professional and comprehensive quality control.”

 

Quality control can operate from supply and quality inspection standard. Xu Hui, general manager of operations at Pioneer Electronics said “Pioneer Electronics requires its products from original manufacturer and agents; and all electronic components quality control processes comply with ISO9001 standards to ensure zero defect quality management. With a complete quality control process: Strict AVL order - incoming IQC visual inspection - professional laboratory testing, Pioneer Electronics strives to ensure original products.”

 

In addition, Xu added, Pioneer Electronics also cooperates with China Electronic Component Center Laboratory to achieve product quality and reliability test, to ensure parts are 100% genuine.