Smith & Associates Europe B.V. Inspectors Earn CCCI-102 Certification for Anti-Counterfeiting
HOUSTON, TX (PRWEB) April 20, 2015 -- Smith & Associates, the largest independent distributor of electronic components, today announces the certification of its European hub’s inspectors to the CCCI-102 standard. The CCCI-102 program was created by Components Technology Institute, Inc. (CTI), the organization behind the vigorous CCAP-101 standard, in order to define and provide formal training and certification for inspectors in the due diligence practices necessary to detect and prevent counterfeit electronic components.
The CCCI-102 certification program provides a valuable next step for CCAP-101-certified independent distributors to expand their anti-counterfeiting efforts and – in doing so – further safeguard the global supply chain from inauthentic components. CTI developed the CCCI-102 program, in collaboration with Smith & Associates, to offer a vigorous third-party certification for electronic component inspectors. The program includes immersive training in the most current counterfeit component detection techniques, as well as practical testing that gauges inspectors’ anti-counterfeiting knowledge and inspection capabilities.
Smith & Associates began certifying its inspectors to the CCCI-102 standard in late 2013, when the quality staff of Smith’s global headquarters in Houston underwent CCCI-102 training and certification as the inaugural certification class of the new standard. 30 Houston inspectors have received certification to Level I of the CCCI-102 program, and 3 advanced inspection personnel also received CCCI-102 Level II certification, which recognizes an advanced level of technical anti-counterfeiting expertise.
The inspectors of Smith’s Hong Kong hub attained certification next, in 2014, with 14 inspectors attaining Level I certification and 2 of these inspectors additionally achieving Level II. Now, Smith has expanded its adoption of the CCCI-102 inspector standard globally with the certification of the inspectors at Smith’s European hub in Amsterdam.
Smith’s Amsterdam inspectors recently underwent training and certification in a range of topics necessary to ensure product authenticity, including visual and microscopic inspection, sampling, safeguarding moisture sensitive components, and anti-counterfeiting procedures such as decapsulation, solderability, and X-ray and acetone testing. At the conclusion of their training and testing, all 3 inspectors evaluated earned CCCI-102 Level I certification.
“Counterfeiting is a constant, global threat to our supply chain, and combatting it calls for consistent vigilance and defense,” said Cleat Kimbrough, Smith’s Vice President of Operations and Quality, Asia & EU.
Art Figueroa, Smith’s Vice President of Operations and Quality, NA & EU – with whom Cleat shares oversight of Smith’s European operational front – stated, “We’ve made supply chain vigilance a priority over the years, and the certification of our European inspectors signifies the truly global nature of our commitment. With inspectors at all of our operational locations certified to this high standard, Smith is able to offer unflagging quality and due diligence worldwide.”
About Smith & Associates
Founded in Houston in 1984, Smith & Associates is a leader in the independent distribution of semiconductors and electronic components to electronics and high-tech manufacturers. Smith offers shortage sourcing for commodity and obsolete parts, innovative purchasing and inventory management solutions, redistribution of excess inventory, and component stocking for warranty and repair programs.
A privately-held company, Smith & Associates employs more than 350 people worldwide, with annual revenue in excess of US $748 million. Smith's regional hubs in Houston, Hong Kong, and Amsterdam are ISO certified. In addition, sales and purchasing offices are located in Austin, Silicon Valley, Guadalajara, New York, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Seoul, Taipei, Penang, and Bangalore. For more information, see http://www.smithweb.com/ or, to reach a Smith representative 24 hours a day, please call: 1.800.HOUSTON or +1 713.430.3000.
For more information, contact:
Mark Bollinger
Smith & Associates, V.P. of Marketing
+1 713.430.3000
mbollinger(at)nfsmith(dot)com
Mark Bollinger, Smith & Associates, http://www.smithweb.com, +1 713.430.3000, [email protected]
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