December 7, 2009 -- The National Electronic Distributors Association (NEDA) has released the NEDA Guideline on Returns. Through a cooperative effort to address an industry issue, NEDA member firms worked to create the new guideline.
The association maintains that guidelines serve the industry’s interests through the promotion of standardized practices between manufacturers and distributors resulting in improved efficiency, profitability and product quality. NEDA says the new publication provides clear cut processes to ensure that product purchased through the authorized channel is legitimate.
According to NEDA, the primary entry of counterfeit electronic parts into the supply chain is purchasing from non-authorized sources such as brokers and unauthorized distributors. The purpose of the NEDA Guideline on Returns is to further strengthen the integrity of the supply chain when purchasing through authorized distribution by establishing guidelines for returned material.
The NEDA Guideline on Returns suggests that instituting controls in the form of policies, inspections and verifications will ensure the integrity of the authorized supply chain. With the safeguards outlined in the document, authorized distribution remains an unlikely source of counterfeit parts, according to the association.
All NEDA guidelines are available through the association website: www.nedassoc.org.
