|
|
18
January, 2006
Subject: Verified Counterfeit Product
To our Valued Customers,
As part of our preventive measures taken to avoid any
counterfeit/remarked components, Pyramid is working closely with
component makers and sharing critical traceability information. As we
identify, segregate and verify bogus material, we will post Quality
Bulletins that may be helpful for Customers to reference as necessary,
and at their convenience.
Subject: Verified Counterfeit Product
Vishay P/N’s SI4404DY-T1, SI4830DY-T1....Lot Code V35D156.31 and Date
Codes 0045, 0430
Littlefuse P/N’s P2300SCRP, P300SAMC....Lot Codes SRB012S2-3-05 and
S-C11SZ-11-05
The last few incoming shipments of the above subject Vishay devices had
arrived here at Pyramid Corporate with slight inconsistencies in the
labeling. The product appeared to be in original Vishay packaging and
looked very authentic, until we examined them very closely and compared
them with bonafide original Vishay packaging and labels. Fortunately,
the Vishay Tech Support staff is very cooperative, as a few other
component mfg's have been (e.g. Littlefuse/Teccor, On Semi, TI, Murata),
and they've assisted us in decoding the lot numbers and trace codes from
the labels. Turns out that these last few shipments, from three separate
suppliers, were indeed counterfeit product with incorrect and/or
contradictory information neatly copied onto on the bogus labels to make
them appear compliant with Vishay's marking and labeling schemes. Thus
far, we have been very successful at recognizing, segregating and
rejecting nonconforming components based upon the obvious cosmetic flaws
or chemical residue left from the refurbishment or re-marking process.
However, it is very disconcerting to note that the bogus product is
becoming more and more difficult to detect as the perpetrators refine
and improve upon their illegitimate handiwork.
Additionally, within the past few months, Littlefuse/Teccor has worked
with Pyramid and their technical staff has been very supportive, as they
have accepted samples from our suspect incoming shipments for evaluation
and confirmed the two above subject SIDAC devices as counterfeit /
remarked product.
The Pyramid Quality Team believes it is absolutely essential that, going
forward, we continue to develop close working relationships with as many
component makers as possible to help prevent the nonconforming goods
from getting to any of our valued Customers. To that end, we are
contacting various mfg's and asking for their assistance as we identify
suspect material during receiving, in process, or shipping inspections.
Traditionally, for their own proprietary reasons, most component mfgs
have been reluctant, to say the least, to share information with the
Independent Distributor. Thankfully, that attitude has changed, albeit
slowly, over the past few years and we are seeing more of the cordial
cooperation demonstrated here by Vishay and Littlefuse. To be sure,
there are still those Mfgs that do not reply to our email requests for
help, but we are definitely getting more positive feedback from
companies that would not have addressed our issues at all a few years
back. Our ISO Registration and commitment to Quality may have some
bearing on their increased cooperation. And perhaps the component makers
are beginning to accept the fact that the Independent Distribution
Industry is responsible for moving billions of dollars worth of various
mfg's electronic components every year and we all share one basic goal;
to provide Quality products and services to our respective Customers. As
they witness their product being re-marked, re-packaged, or otherwise
counterfeited and introduced into the Supply Chain, we would hope that
they may eventually join with us to help stem the tide of fraudulent
parts that only serve to tarnish their good reputations.
Pyramid’s Quality and Warehouse Teams will continue to improve upon our
internal processes and procedures regarding this important issue and
certainly welcome any Customer comments.
Nick Freischlag
Quality Assurance Manager
ISO Management Representative
Pyramid Technologies, Inc.
|
