Aerospace Counterfeit Avoidance Standards and Clauses Reference
Counterfeit avoidance requirements come from standards, contract clauses and customer manuals. This reference lists the main ones with who they apply to, so you can tell which are relevant to your contract and which are only good practice.
| Standard or clause | Subject | Applies to | What it addresses | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
AS9100D 8.1.4 | Prevention of counterfeit parts | Aerospace organizations certified to AS9100 | Requires planned and implemented processes appropriate to the organization and product to prevent use of counterfeit parts and their inclusion in product | Quality management standard |
SAE AS5553 | Counterfeit Electronic Parts: Avoidance, Detection, Mitigation and Disposition | Organizations buying or using electronic parts | Counterfeit risk management for electronic parts including purchasing, receiving, response and reporting | SAE standard |
SAE AS6174 | Counterfeit Materiel: Assuring Acquisition of Authentic and Conforming Materiel | Organizations buying materiel other than electronic parts | Extends counterfeit avoidance to raw material, fasteners, hardware and other items | SAE standard |
SAE AS6081 | Counterfeit Electronic Parts Avoidance Protocol, Distributors | Distributors of electronic parts | Requirements for distributors to avoid supplying counterfeit electronic parts | SAE standard |
SAE AS6171 | Test Methods Standard, Counterfeit Electrical, Electronic and Electromechanical Parts | Test labs and buyers of suspect parts | Common test methods to detect suspect counterfeit electronic parts | SAE standard |
SAE AS6496 | Counterfeit Electronic Parts Avoidance, Authorized and Franchised Distribution | Authorized and franchised distributors | Distributor requirements for authorized distribution channels | SAE standard |
IDEA-STD-1010 | Acceptability of Electronic Components Distributed in the Open Market | Inspectors of electronic components | Visual inspection criteria for components bought on the open market | Industry standard |
DFARS 252.246-7007 | Contractor Counterfeit Electronic Part Detection and Avoidance System | Covered DoD contractors subject to CAS | Requires an operating system to detect and avoid counterfeit electronic parts, with defined system criteria | DFARS clause |
DFARS 252.246-7008 | Sources of Electronic Parts | DoD contractors supplying electronic parts or products containing them | Restricts sources of electronic parts to original manufacturers, authorized suppliers and trusted suppliers, with notice and test rules for exceptions | DFARS clause |
FAR 52.246-26 | Reporting Nonconforming Items | Contractors under the clause | Requires reporting of counterfeit or suspect counterfeit items and major or critical nonconformances to the Government-Industry Data Exchange Program | FAR clause |
NDAA FY2012 Section 818 | Detection and avoidance of counterfeit electronic parts | DoD and its contractors | Statutory basis for the DFARS counterfeit electronic parts clauses | Statute |
GIDEP | Government-Industry Data Exchange Program | Participating government and industry members | Exchange of nonconformance, counterfeit and alert information between participants | Program |
ISO/IEC 17025 | General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories | Labs used for counterfeit detection testing | Accreditation basis commonly expected of an external test lab | ISO standard |
Customer quality clauses | Prime or OEM supplier quality requirements | Suppliers to the prime or OEM | Often add source approval, notification and flowdown requirements beyond the standards | Contract requirement |
This table describes what each document addresses in general terms. It does not quote the documents and it is not legal advice. Always read the current revision and the exact clause text in your contract.
Map clauses to purchase orders
Want each PO tagged with the counterfeit and DFARS clauses that apply? We can show how that works in an ERP.
Optional. The tool and every export work without this. No spam.
How to use this reference
Search by number, subject or applies to. If you are a machine shop or fabricator, AS9100D clause 8.1.4 and AS6174 for materiel are likely to matter most. If you build or assemble electronics for defense, add AS5553, the DFARS clauses and the testing standards. Match the table against the clauses in your purchase orders and your customer quality manuals, then confirm the current revision of each document with your standards subscription.
Standards versus clauses
A standard such as AS5553 is a consensus document that becomes binding when a customer or a certification scheme calls it up. A clause such as DFARS 252.246-7008 is binding because it is in your contract. The difference matters for audits: you can be nonconforming against a contract clause even if you hold AS9100 certification. Keep a list of which clauses are flowed to you on each program.
- Standards bind through contract or certification
- DFARS and FAR clauses bind through the contract
- Customer clauses can be stricter than either
Reading the table for your situation
Ask three questions. What do we buy: electronics, materiel, or both? Who do we sell to: commercial aerospace, prime defense contractors, or the government directly? What does the contract flow down? The answers narrow the table to a handful of rows. Then check that your counterfeit prevention plan names the same documents.
Common mistakes
A common error is assuming DFARS 252.246-7007 applies to every supplier. Its system criteria apply to covered contractors, though the requirements often flow down in practice. Another is treating AS5553 as the standard for fasteners when AS6174 is the materiel companion. Revisions also change, so avoid quoting clause numbers from old procedures without checking the current text.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between AS5553 and AS6174?
AS5553 addresses counterfeit electronic parts. AS6174 addresses counterfeit materiel more broadly, such as raw material, fasteners and mechanical hardware. A company buying both usually needs to address both in its plan.
Does AS9100 require compliance with AS5553?
AS9100D clause 8.1.4 requires a process to prevent counterfeit parts but does not by itself mandate a specific SAE standard. Customers and contracts often call up AS5553 or AS6174, so follow what your orders require.
Where do I find the exact DFARS clause text?
The Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement is published by the US government and is available online. Always read the clause date in your contract, since the version incorporated into the contract is the one that applies.
Is this table complete?
No. It lists the main documents. Specific primes and programs add their own requirements. Treat the table as a starting map and confirm against your contract and customer quality manual.
We can help map which clauses apply to each purchase order and link them to supplier records in your ERP.
Related Tools
Counterfeit Parts Prevention Plan Template
A fill-in plan document covering approved sources, purchasing controls, receiving inspection, suspect part handling, reporting, training and records.
Aerospace & DefenseCounterfeit Parts Risk Assessment (AS5553)
A 10-question assessment of your counterfeit electronic parts exposure, aligned to AS5553 and DFARS counterfeit prevention requirements, with a risk band and mitigation plan.
Aerospace & DefenseDFARS Flowdown Subcontractor Risk Tracker
An editable worksheet that records CUI exposure, flowdown status and cyber maturity per subcontractor and scores risk so you know whom to chase first.
Aerospace & DefenseAerospace External Provider Flowdown Checklist
Checklist of items to include on aerospace purchase orders so external providers receive process, quality, record and regulatory requirements.
More Aerospace & Defense tools
See all- CMMC 2.0 Level 2 Readiness Assessment
- ITAR Compliance Checklist for Manufacturers
- DFARS 252.204-7012 Compliance Self-Assessment
- AS9100 Audit Readiness Checklist
- Export Control Screening Checklist
- Defense Contractor AI Readiness Assessment
- Aerospace Supplier Scorecard
- First Article Inspection (AS9102) Checklist
- Government Contract Compliance Cost Calculator
Keep exploring
Free tools
- Counterfeit Parts Prevention Plan TemplateA fill-in plan document covering approved sources, purchasing controls, receiving inspection, suspect part handling, reporting, training and records.
- ERP Contract Clauses Glossary ReferenceA lookup of the clauses that matter in ERP software and services contracts, with plain-language meaning and a check to run on each.
- Counterfeit Parts Risk Assessment (AS5553)A 10-question assessment of your counterfeit electronic parts exposure, aligned to AS5553 and DFARS counterfeit prevention requirements, with a risk band and mitigation plan.
Guides
- Counterfeit Electronic Parts Avoidance for EMS CompaniesWhat EMS shops must do to avoid counterfeit electronic parts: DFARS 252.246-7007 and 7008, AS5553 and AS6081, approved sources, inspection, and records.
- How to Review Flow-Down Clauses on Aerospace Purchase OrdersHow aerospace suppliers review FAR, DFARS and prime quality flow-downs on RFQs and POs, which clauses add real cost, and how to track exceptions.
- Supply Chain Resilience in Defense and Aerospace ManufacturingSupply chain resilience in defense manufacturing: DFARS 252.225-7008 specialty metals, DMSMS obsolescence, counterfeit parts, and second-source strategy.
AI on your ERP
- AI for AS9100 Quality Management on Your ERPAI on top of your ERP quality module for AS9100D suppliers: NCR/CAPA drafting, FAI support, counterfeit parts screening, with a full audit trail.
- AI for Infor LN in Aerospace and Defense ManufacturingAI grounded on Infor LN project, contract, and configuration management data for aerospace and defense manufacturers, with on-prem deployment for ITAR.
Manufacturing hubs
- American Bearing Manufacturers Association (ABMA): bearing standards, quality and ERPABMA bearing manufacturers ecosystem: load rating and tolerance standards, ABEC grades, traceability, plus ERP, quoting and private AI for bearing makers.
- Aerospace Industries Association (AIA): what it covers and what it means for suppliers' ERP and quality dataWhat the Aerospace Industries Association does, how NAS standards, AS9100 and flow-downs shape suppliers, and the ERP, quoting and AI issues behind them.