NASHUA, NH -- A gap analysis on counterfeit parts avoidance and detection standards performed by a BAE Systems technical director reveals lower-level documents have improved their coverage of components but still lack full accounting for materials and non-electronics parts.

Henry Livingston, technical director and engineering fellow,  performed the analysis following the update or release of several new SAE documents.

Besides missing coverage of various parts and materials, Livingston said in his blog that his analysis also revealed that higher level Quality Management Systems standards do not require key elements required for a robust counterfeit avoidance program.

"Standards gaps continue to present industry producers and government users with significant implementation challenges. The presence of requirements in QMS standards and associated certification programs would encourage implementation a robust counterfeit avoidance program throughout the supply chain. Sadly, organizations involved in maintaining key US and international QMS standards have yet to embed these requirements into QMS standards and supplier certification programs," Livingston wrote.