PURPOSE
External Visual Inspection is non-destructive. External Visual Inspection, if properly performed, can lead to a high capture rate of the suspect or fraudulent/counterfeit parts.
A good deal of fraudulent/counterfeits are parts that have been recycled; i.e., taken off boards or assemblies and reworked in the form of straightening and re-tinning the leads, remarking by sanding off the original marking, and/or blacktopping to hide the sanding marks and then remarking.
The External Visual Inspection consists of the following two examinations.
- To ensure that all parts in the lot meet the General Criteria (Requirement in AS6081 test standard) and appear in good condition to the unaided eye.
- When the samples are selected from the lot to undergo the detailed criteria (Requirement in AS6081 test standard). Whenever possible, the sample being inspected should be compared to a part received from the OCM or OCM-approved authorized (Franchised) distributor. assemblies and reworked in the form of straightening and re-tinning the leads, remarking by sanding off the original marking, and/or blacktopping to hide the sanding marks and then remarking.
Detailed Criteria
The samples shall be optically examined at magnification and lighting sufficient to detect the feature being examined. Anomalies may be an indication of suspect counterfeit parts.
The accept/reject criteria used should include relevant versus non-relevant conditions of distinguishing between a true suspect counterfeit part versus a false positive indication.
This information shall be documented in the final test report.
