What is AS5553 ? Why is it Important?

Electronics Supply Chain Solutions would like you to know about AS5553
New! Introduction to AS5553 and Counterfeit Electronic Parts Avoidance Training Seminar will be given by instructors: Phil Zulueta and Katherine Whittington on May 17, 2010 in Wichita, Kansas.Click Here to learn more about the instructors and the course.
This comprehensive seminar introduces participants to AS5553 and specifically addresses counterfeit part risk mitigation methods in electronic design and parts management, supplier management, procurement, part verification, material control, and response strategies when suspect or confirmed counterfeit parts are discovered. The seminar will provide information and guidance in each of these key requirement areas.
Registration Information: I.D. #C0950; Fees: $785; SAE Classic Members: $707; .7 CEUs
ESCS President Matthew Heaphy III has participated in this course and had found it to be of tremendous value. In order to combat counterfeits you need to educate your staff on what to look for in order to mitigate your risks. This course does provide you with needed knowledge and hands on training demanded by the surge of counterfeit parts entering the supply chain. Who should attend??? This seminar will benefit a wide range of individuals and experience levels across the electronics industry and supply chain. Anyone who designs, specifies, buys, receives, assembles and tests electronic hardware will benefit from this seminar. * ESCS does not have any afilllation with this offering and provides this information solely for the benefit of sharing quality information you can use.
To register, click Register button at the top of this page and submit the online form, or contact SAE Customer Service at 1-877-606-7323 (724/776-4970 outside the U.S. and Canada) or at CustomerService@sae.org.

ESCS's Count2Fit Explains Risk Mitigation Plans

Purpose-  The risk mitigation plan (also sometimes referred to as a risk response plan) communicates how specific risks will be dealt with and the action steps that are required to carry them out. It gives team members a clear sense of the actions that they are expected to take and provides management with an understanding of what actions are being taken on their behalf to ameliorate project risk.

Application -The plan is frequently applied in the project management software as a series of tasks in addition to those that were on the original activity list. The risk mitigation plan may also identify specific triggers, which are events that spur action based on the escalating proximity of a given risk. As risks become imminent, the risk mitigation plan identifies what actions should occur and who is responsible for implementing those actions.


Content - The risk mitigation plan is a list of specific actions being taken to deal with specific risks. It often lists the names of the individuals responsible for carrying out those actions, as well. Ideally, it is an evolutionary document, capturing information on the outcomes of the risk strategies for future reference. It can be developed in a tabular format in a spreadsheet or in project management software, using the supplemental text fields that are available in most software packages. The latter approach is particularly effective when risks are identified and associated with specific work packages within the work breakdown structure. The plan may include guidance on how to write risk event statements, as well as how to write strategy or response statements. In general, both are significantly enhanced when written as full sentences detailing the nature of the risk and/or strategy under consideration.


Approaches - In defining risk responses or mitigation strategies, the Project Management Institute acknowledges four basic approaches: avoidance, acceptance, mitigation, and deflection. Whatever approaches are applied, definition of terms will be essential in crafting a sound mitigation plan. The document should incorporate reference to the terms and what they mean:


Responsible - Avoidance: To eliminate the conditions that allow the risk to be present at all, most frequently by dropping the project or the task. Acceptance: To acknowledge the risk’s existence, but to take no preemptive action to resolve it, except for the possible development of contingency plans should the risk event come to pass. Mitigation: To minimize the probability of a risk’s occurrence or the impact of the risk should it occur. Deflection: To transfer the risk (in whole or part) to another organization, individual, or entity. The risk mitigation plan or risk response plan should also include some guidance on the frequency of updates to the documentation. ESCS recomends 10 Steps a Manufacturer Can Take to Mitigate Counterfeit Risks  


Considerations - If the risk mitigation or risk response plan is maintained separately from the project plan as a whole, it will be treated as a separate level of effort. Ideally, it should be integrated with other project plan documentation to ensure that it becomes part of the routine associated with project planning. To learn more about how to Combat Counterfeits visit Electronic Supply Chain Solutions many web sites that provide lessons learned to mitigate the risk of Counterfeits. Count2Fit & Professor Quality are the dynamic duo at ESCS that provide both of the components: Quatlity and Counterfeit risk mitigation to those looking to educate them self to Combat Counterfeits. If you need to buy electronic components safely call ESCS at 727-723-8255 ESCS is an AS9120 certified franchised and independant distibutor.

ESCS provides solutions to the factors that lead to the growth of Tin Whiskers

Tin whiskers present a unique challenge to the electronics industry. There have been numbers of electronics failures in the market caused by tin whiskers since 1940s. After 2000, as a result of the global transition to lead-free electronics, the majority of the electronic component manufacturers are now using pure tin or tin-rich alloys for terminal and lead finishes. The increased used of tin based lead-free finishes and materials, focused concern and research on tin whiskers particular for long life and mission critical applications, such as space, aviation, and implantable medical devices. The Center of Advanced Life Cycle Engineering at the University of Maryland in collaboration with The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research (ISIR) at Osaka University is conducting the Fourth International Symposium on Tin Whiskers.
  What is a tin whisker? ESCS has the awnser. A tin whisker is a conductive tin crystal, which can spontaneously grow from tin based lead-free finished surfaces even at room temperature, often in a needle-like form. Oxidation in humid atmosphere, corrosion, intermetallic formation, stress under thermal cycling, external pressure in fine pitch connectors and electromigration have been shown to promote whisker formation.

Electronic Supply Chain Solutions urges those affected by tin wiskers to atten this symposium which will cover case histories, theories of tin whisker growth, experiments and results, risk evaluation methods and risk mitigation strategies. It is important to understand the current state of knowledge on the growth, risk and mitigation strategies, so you can develop effective qualification and mitigation procedures for your products. To learn more visit http://www.calce.umd.edu/tin-whiskers/symposia.htm Excerps taken from the Center for Advanced Life Cycle Engineering (CALCE) &The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research (ISIR), Osaka University

TEAM KRUNCH 79 is Breaking Away

Electronic Supply Chain Solutions as many know has been a sponsor and mentor to team KRUNCH 79 along with many of the engineers at Honeywell and the parents of East Lake High School in Florida.

This years challenge called "BREAKAWAY" will once again call on both team work and gracios professionalism. We congratulate  all the teams for thier efforts to date but now its KRUNCH TIME!

  http://www.electronicsupplychainsolutions.com/roboticsframe.htm                

FIRST is developing the enginees of tomorrow. Find out how you can become involved in you town! Visit http://www.first.org/ to learn more.