A sourcing checklist for shortage parts
Ten questions to ask before you place an order for a part that is hard to find.
When a part is hard to find, the pressure is to buy the first lot that turns up. These ten questions take a few minutes and save most of the expensive mistakes.
- Is the manufacturer part number exact, including the suffix for package, temperature grade and packaging?
- Is there a qualified alternate you could use instead, and has engineering approved it?
- Where does this lot come from, and can the supplier show traceability to the original manufacturer?
- What is the date code, and does it meet your requirements for age and storage?
- Is the part moisture-sensitive, and has it been stored and packed accordingly?
- What inspection and testing will be done before the parts ship, and what will you do on arrival?
- What happens if the parts fail inspection: return, replacement or refund, and within what time?
- Is the quantity enough for the build, including yield and spares, or will you be back in a few weeks?
- How is payment protected until the parts are accepted?
- Does this purchase solve the problem, or should the shortage trigger a design change?
If the answer to any of these is unclear, slow down before you pay. A late part costs time; a wrong part costs the build.
Sourcing a shortage part right now? Talk to a sourcing expert.
