Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1367446
64 SMT007 MAGAZINE I MAY 2021 nificant liability because these products are much more likely to malfunction than prod- ucts that are built entirely with genuine electri- cal components, due largely to the lower qual- ity of the counterfeit electrical parts. Your tablet malfunctioning can be frustrat- ing enough. It is only when the presence of counterfeit electrical components poses real danger to consumers that it merits the atten- tion this problem truly deserves. Certain prod- ucts could cause physical harm to consumers if a counterfeit component failed. Equally dis- turbing, if a counterfeit electrical component caused a product to malfunction or short-cir- cuit, one could be looking at the very real pos- sibility of a fire and loss of life. e presence of counterfeit parts in medical devices is perhaps the most troubling, and it is a very real possibility in the current market. If a medical device does not perform as it was designed due to a counterfeit or fake electri- cal component, it may not yield accurate test results, and that could directly harm patients. e financial impact of counterfeit is no less disturbing, especially in the semiconductor mar- ket—an industry that loses as much as $250 bil- lion annually because of counterfeit components. Counterfeits show up in virtually any indus- try, and companies that work with electronic equipment need to have the technology in place to avoid fakes and detect counterfeit electronic components that found their way into the factory. One company offering an incredibly adapt- able solution to the widespread problem of counterfeit electrical components is Cybord. Cybord's soware solution, Cybord SMT, physically tests 100% of every product's com- ponents by analyzing each component's photo, which is already taken today by SMT pick and place equipment. e soware verifies authen- ticity, solderability condition, external defects, and tampering concerns. Cybord SMT achieves this by using advanced artificial intelligence algorithms and big data to make sure no counterfeit parts or hardware cyber components get integrated into larger product parts. Companies find multiple value points in Cybord's soware throughout the product's lifecycle. Early defect detection (pre-reflow) means that first pass yield rate is improved, and fewer internal failure costs are incurred. Prod- ucts free of counterfeits fail less and minimize external failure costs. Cyber-tampering inspec- tion helps in reduction of security threats in the field, and component analytics let compa- nies optimize their recall criteria and perform surgical recalls and save significant expenses. A combination of thoroughly vetting the resources in your supply chain along with the integration of Cybord SMT soware is one of the most reliable strategies for protecting company investments and products from the damage that can be caused by counterfeit electrical compo- nents. Supply chain contamination risks should not be ignored and can now be minimized using soware. Please contact me at sagi_reuven@ mentor.com for more information. SMT007 Editor's note: This column originally appeared online at SMT007.com. Sagi Reuven is a business development manager for the electronics industry at Siemens Digital Industries Software. Check out this additional content from Siemens Digital Industries Software: • The Printed Circuit Assembler's Guide to... Smart Data: Using Data to Improve Manufacturing (a free eBook available for download) • The Printed Circuit Assembler's Guide to… Advanced Manufacturing in the Digital Age (a free eBook available for download) • Siemens' free, 12-part, on-demand webinar series "Implementing Digital Twin Best Practices From Design Through Manufacturing." • RealTime With ... Siemens and Computrol: Achieving Operational Excellence in Electronics Manufacturing