SAE targets counterfeit parts

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WARRENDALE, Ill., Sept. 20 (UPI) -- A Web portal providing information on counterfeit parts in aerospace, defense and other industries has been launched by a U.S. professional association.

The Counterfeit Parts Portal, by SAE International, is designed as an information clearing house for manufacturers and engineers.

"We've really created a go-to website related to counterfeit parts and the challenges associated with them," Bill Cariello, SAE's manager of Web Strategy/Operations said.

"SAE International's new 'Counterfeit Parts Portal' provides important knowledge to help mobility engineering professionals deal with the challenges presented by counterfeit parts and help the industry as a whole eliminate them."

SAE International, a global association of engineers and related technical experts, stresses the threat from counterfeit parts is growing. It cites a U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security study that showed a 140 percent-plus jump in reported counterfeit incidents from 387 participants – from 3,868 in 2005 to 9,356 in 2008.

SAE also noted the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee found 1,800 incidents of counterfeit parts in weapon systems over a two-year period. More than 1million parts were involved -- 70 percent could be traced to China.

"There clearly is a problem, and we hope that SAE International's new 'Counterfeit Parts Portal' can help provide solutions," Cariello said.