Engineering Resilience: How Independent Distributors Uphold Quality Standards in Electronics Components

In today's rapidly advancing technological world, engineers play a critical role in upholding quality standards. Those standards ensure that the products distributed through the global electronic component supply chain exceed customer expectations in industries where safety, efficiency, and durability are paramount.

In industries like automotive, healthcare, and aerospace and defense, upholding quality standards is not just about efficiency. Quality is essential for ensuring safety and preventing life-threatening consequences. A single counterfeit part or subpar component can have significant adverse effects throughout the supply chain, ultimately impacting the individual end user or patient.

Fusion Worldwide and its in-house testing facility, Prosemi, understand the importance of quality and strive to maintain the high standards engineers depend on. This dedication begins at the sourcing stage, where the independent electronic distributor's experienced buyers meticulously vet suppliers and their products before engaging in business. This commitment to quality is upheld throughout the entire Quality Assurance cycle, ensuring that every product is thoroughly inspected before it reaches the customer's hands.

Through a strict supplier qualification and management process, the independent distributor reduces potential risks, protects its customers' brand reputation, guarantees regulatory compliance, and supports continuous production.

"Quality assurance is a core focus for Fusion Worldwide's quality team," says Krishna Ganason, the company's Director of Engineering. "This commitment requires a keen understanding of how likely it is that something will occur, even before we bring in the parts into our own quality control department."

Bringing Engineering Power In-House

Fusion Worldwide also employs a team of over 35 degreed engineers and implements an 18-month-long quality control apprenticeship program. "Certified and experienced engineers are critical to the robust inspection and testing capabilities and processes," says Po Man Chan, Quality Director, APAC, for Fusion Worldwide. Traceability is equally important. "With our self-developed, powerful system Scout RMS, all transaction records are traceable. Fusion also requires its suppliers to maintain all records to provide traceability anytime a customer asks for it."

These are just some of the measures that Fusion Worldwide and Prosemi have implemented to ensure that engineers have consistent access to the quality parts and components they need. The two companies also hold a wide range of industry certifications and accreditations that further prove their commitment to only selling quality, reliable products.

"Fusion Worldwide has several certifications to avoid fraudulent and counterfeit electronic parts entering the supply chain and from posing significant performance, reliability, and safety risks," Ganason explains. "For example, the AS6081 standard establishes requirements and practices to mitigate the risk of buying, receiving, and selling fraudulent or counterfeit parts, therefore giving customers confidence in their own supply chains."

Fusion Worldwide is also AS9120B-certified. Tailored for the aerospace and defense sector, this certification affirms the independent distributor's adherence to stringent Quality Management System (QMS) standards. This certification validates the company's ability to supply authentic components consistently. It also assures customers of their performance reliability, which is crucial in mission-critical applications where failure is not an option.

Test, Test, and then Test Again

In-house testing—which very few distributors offer—is another game-changer for engineers who need to know that the products they're designing or testing are built with reliable parts and components. Prosemi's in-house testing capabilities help Fusion Worldwide maintain strict quality control standards throughout the supply chain.

Prosemi scrutinizes incoming products for defects or inconsistencies, preventing subpar items from reaching customers. This boosts customer satisfaction and preserves the distributor's reputation for reliability and excellence in the industry. In-house quality testing also helps Fusion Worldwide respond quickly to potential issues, conduct immediate assessments, and implement corrective measures without relying on external testing services.

Prosemi provides several critical measures so engineers can trust the components they select for their products. These processes include:

• Certified inspectors follow IDEA ICE 3000 standards, meticulously overseeing components from receipt to shipment to ensure their reliability and durability.
• Comprehensive visual inspections, dimensional measurements, lead inspections, and marking permanency testing are performed to identify any discrepancies or irregularities.
• Advanced techniques such as scrape and acetone testing to further enhance the scrutiny process, effectively preventing counterfeit infiltration.
• Fusion Worldwide's QC Inspection Team utilizes cutting-edge technology and technical expertise, applying various tools and methods for thorough inspection.
• Keyence Microscope 2000x and X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) analysis examine the intricate details of components, revealing any anomalies or inconsistencies.

Prosemi and Fusion Worldwide have implemented these steps to give engineers peace of mind, knowing that the components they specify and incorporate into their products are of the highest quality. These steps are taken on every order, which means customers can always rely on Fusion Worldwide to deliver on its promises.

"Electronic components are the foundation for all different types of engineered advanced devices and technologies, so any substandard quality products will lead to huge loss in terms of material costs, company reputation, and customer loyalty," Chan says. "Any reliability or safety issues could potentially impact not only the organization itself, but also human lives, the environment, and entire societies."

Your Guide to Quality Control in Semiconductor Distribution

At Fusion Worldwide, we're committed to being your trusted partner, providing the expertise and resources to help you make confident, informed sourcing decisions. Download our new Quality Guide to learn how we protect and strengthen our customers' supply chains.