Certified Shortage Support: Smith’s 4Cs Quality Framework

The ongoing semiconductor shortages have had massive impacts around the world, throwing a wrench into the production of consumer electronics, automobiles, industrial automation, and more. As companies scour their supply chains for available product, many are entering the open market for the first time.

But the waters in the open market can be murky and difficult to navigate for some. Inexperienced buyers, in their desperation to find the parts they need, can overlook major red flags and end up paying huge sums of money for counterfeit parts – or worse, no parts at all. To prevent this worst-case scenario, buyers must educate themselves and properly vet their suppliers. By partnering with an independent distributor like Smith, companies can rely on our vast market knowledge and expertise to reduce their risk and obtain the components they need to complete their builds.

For nearly four decades, Smith has been a leader in the semiconductor open market, backed by our commitment to quality and emphasis on proactive supply chain planning. Our operational framework is built on the 4Cs – comprehensive, consistent, continuous, and certified. These four pillars of quality underpin our role as the world’s leading independent distributor of electronic components.

In this series, I will break down the 4Cs and discuss how each one plays a vital role during times of shortage, ensuring that the quality of our products is unmatched and without question.

Our final C – certified – reflects our dedication to upholding our high standards for quality assurance. At Smith, we refuse to rely solely on our own assessment of quality. Instead, we are backed by more than 25 third-party certifications and accreditations to demonstrate our strict adherence to industry standards.

Particularly in times of shortage, customers can rest assured knowing that Smith carries some of the highest certifications for counterfeit mitigation. These standards, such as AS6081, inform our anticounterfeit processes and procedures and give us a comprehensive framework for testing and inspecting electronic components to confirm authenticity.

Quality is vital across industries but demands even higher prominence when health and safety are on the line – such as in the medical, automotive, and aerospace and defense spheres. Smith upholds additional standards for authenticity and reliability, including our AS9120 and ISO 13485 certifications, to meet these industries’ stringent security and regulatory requirements.

We have spent more than 38 years developing Smith’s framework for quality excellence. In that time, we’ve seen numerous shortage situations unfold and have continued to incorporate new technology, training, and processes into our systems to confirm our products’ functionality and authenticity, so our customers can rest assured that Smith has taken the necessary steps to mitigate their risks.

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