ERAI Announces 2013 ERAI Executive Conference - Gaining Momentum - Supply Chain Advancements in the Fight Against Counterfeits

NAPLES, Fla., Feb. 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- ERAI, Inc. has announced that the 2013 ERAI Executive Conference will be held in Orlando, FL at the Rosen Centre Hotel on April 18 and 19, 2013.

ERAI Inc. will gather professionals from all sectors of the electronics supply chain including distributors of electrical, electronic, and electromechanical (EEE) parts (franchise and independent), organizations that procure or manufacture using integrated electronic parts and/or assemblies containing such items, original equipment manufacturers, contract manufacturers, aerospace integrators, test and inspection laboratories, certification bodies & auditors, government agencies and enforcement to address the detection, avoidance and elimination of counterfeit parts in the supply chain. This two-day, content rich conference will include lectures, panel discussions and interactive workshops led by subject matter experts from industry and government, all of which provide an exceptional opportunity for structured dialogue, professional development and networking.

It has been said 2013 will be a turning point for the supply chain. Last year we watched the United States Government swing into action as Congress passed and President Obama signed a sweeping new law, Section 818 of the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act, which imposes new responsibilities on the DoD and all of its suppliers to detect, avoid and eliminate counterfeit parts in the defense supply chain. On October 31, 2012, the Defense Logistics Agency announced it would require DNA marking in an effort to enhance current safeguards to prevent counterfeit parts from entering the DLA's supply chain. In November, SAE International released its much anticipated Aerospace Standard  AS6081 (Fraudulent/Counterfeit Electronic Parts: Avoidance, Detection, Mitigation, and Disposition-Distributors). In January 2013, the first revision of SAE AS5553 was published:  the objective of Rev. A was to ensure the applicability and acceptability of AS5553 on a global scale and across multiple sectors within the supply chain. Later this year we expect to see the release of SAE AS6171 which standardizes practices to detect suspect counterfeit electronic parts, maximize the use of authentic parts and ensure consistency across the supply-chain for test techniques and requirements.

Collectively, these efforts alone should serve as evidence the global supply chain is making progress and this trend that points towards improvement shall serve as the basis for this year's ERAI Conference theme: "Gaining Momentum - Supply Chain Advancements in the Fight Against Counterfeits". While much has been accomplished, much remains to be done.

This year's key learning objectives include:

• Analyze the requirements of Section 818 of the 2012 NDAA regarding counterfeit electronic parts
• Discuss the cost, contractual and legal consequences of Section 818
• The status of rule-making and explain FAR and DFARS regulatory implementation
• How NDAA will impact the commercial sector
• Identify leading tools and resources available for parts identification, distributor validation and test and inspection
• Enhancements relative to supplier approval and selection
• Counterfeit screening and testing: What is being done to achieve consistency and reduce subjectivity
• Identifying nonconforming parts via packaging inspection/analysis
• Standards update (SAE AS5553A, AS6081, AS6171)
• AS6081 requirements, implementation and accreditation
• Recommended practices for handling, reporting and disposing of fraudulent, suspect and counterfeit parts and the challenges (legal, economic, etc.) this presents
• Customs seizures: Is the system working?
• Guidance to control counterfeit parts that might be lurking in OEM excess
• Emerging threats (e.g. clones, malicious code, new counterfeiting techniques)
• Emerging technologies
• Looking forward: What will the supply chain look like a year from now?

Scheduled speakers include, but are not limited to: Robert Metzger from Rogers Joseph O'Donnell PC; Dr. James Hayward from Applied DNA Sciences; Sultan Ali Lilani from Integra Technologies LLC; Carlo Abesamis from NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory; Steve Foster from NASA Dryden Flight Research Center; Keith Gregory from Snell & Wilmer LLP; Dan Berry from Quintessence TC LLC; Robert Leibrandt from US Department of Defense; Phil Zulueta, G-19 Committee Chairman, SAE International; Bob Vermillion from RMV Technology Group; Anne Poncheri from Silicon Cert Laboratories; Mark Snider from ERAI and Geoff Hill from Astute Electronics Ltd.

For more information, please visit http://www.erai.com/conference_2013_event_overview_.aspx

Members of the media can register for the event by contacting Kristal Snider at [email protected].

About ERAI, Inc.

ERAI, Inc. (www.erai.com) is a privately held global information services organization that monitors, investigates and reports issues that are affecting the global supply chain of electronics. Since 1995, ERAI has been the industry's primary reporting and investigation service, providing information and risk mitigation solutions to electronics professionals worldwide. ERAI is comprised of Original Component Manufacturers (OCMs), Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), Distributors (franchised and independent), Contract Manufacturers (CMs), government agencies and associations serving the industry. ERAI is the industry leader for in-depth information on counterfeit, substandard and high-risk parts. The ERAI High-Risk Parts Database gives members access to the industry's most comprehensive list of known problem parts. Access to this valuable information allows your company or organization the ability to better mitigate risks in your procurement process on both off the shelf and end of life or obsolete parts.

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SOURCE ERAI, Inc.