The purpose of this paper is to present the results of research into the causes of counterfeit parts entering into the military parts supply chain in the USA.
The approach included tracking of a part through the supply chain, surveys of counterfeit incidences, researching a number of reports and articles written on the subject. There were also areas addressed based on personal experiences.
Superficial magazine and blog articles emphasize the apparent problem based on the geographic source of counterfeit electronics. The research conducted by the authors shows that while problems exist on the supply side, it is the management of the material at the purchase end where the best control is possible and most realistic to be implemented.
Issues related to the creation, disposal, and re‐use of electronics waste have not been evaluated in this article. Access to the decision makers at the component management level at prime contractors has also been limited.
The paper discusses observations of how the “black swan” effect has moved into the electronics supply chain due to actions that were made without knowing what the effects of the unknown could cause. The conclusion addresses how these effects could have been avoided in many cases if the laws of cause and effect had been considered in the decision making.
