SMT, Corp.
Defending Mission-Critical Systems against Obsolescence and Counterfeits

Critical systems, such as radars, communications networks, medical devices, and energy infrastructure, are designed to operate for decades; yet, the semiconductor components that power them are often produced for only a few years. SMT, Corp. keeps these systems running by sourcing and validating obsolete components. The company also helps shape and advance counterfeit detection methodologies, strengthening assurance across the supply chain.

Through comprehensive inspection, testing, and verification, the company supplies its clients with fully authenticated, quality-assured components that meet stringent regulatory standards. With about 25 years of experience, the company is highly accredited and trusted, a reputation that sets it apart in the industry. In doing so, it bridges the divide between fast- changing semiconductor technology and the extended operational life of essential systems, helping preserve their safety, reliability, and performance.

Regulatory requirements, such as those from the US Department of Defense, demand complete traceability and stringent testing for any parts sourced from beyond original manufacturers or authorized suppliers. SMT provides end-to-end inspection and test solutions that meet these demands while building confidence through industry-leading expertise and accreditation.

Defining the Next Generation of Detection

Semiconductor components often have short production lifespans with microcontrollers and FPGAs, for example, typically available form authorized sources for only four to seven years. Many critical systems in defense, aerospace, medical, and energy sectors remain in service for decades, creating a persistent gap between component availability and a system’s operational life.

“Many of our customers operate systems whose lifespan far exceeds that of the parts they require,” explains Michael Schwarm, chief growth officer. “They depend on components that are no longer manufactured or readily available.”

When customers request obsolete parts, authentic components are often difficult to source. Those found on the gray market frequently lack traceability, increasing the risk of counterfeit or degraded parts entering critical systems. To counter this, SMT employs rigorous inspection and testing to verify quality and authenticity before delivery.

Over the past decade, SMT has monitored the evolution of counterfeit electronic parts. In the early stages, counterfeiting often meant simply remarking, repainting, or relabeling parts to make them appear new or upgraded. These surface-level forgeries were relatively easy to catch, and SMT’s comprehensive inspection and testing methods, from high-magnification inspection to X-ray analysis, consistently proved effective at exposing them.

That experience put SMT in a strong position when a more complex threat of full-scale chip cloning emerged. Counterfeiters now replicate chips at the silicon level, producing nearly indistinguishable copies that can bypass traditional inspection and testing. SMT was among the first to identify cloned SRAM memory devices using advanced X-ray dye layer analysis, revealing internal inconsistencies invisible on the surface. The company’s ongoing research has also uncovered cloned microcontrollers and FPGAs, which require advanced material and spectral analysis to detect.

Rather than solely following existing standards, SMT actively creates innovative techniques for leveraging new detection tools such as Raman and FTIR spectroscopy. This proactive approach keeps it ahead of counterfeiters and ensures the integrity of its clients’ supply chains.

Delivering Total Supply Chain Assurance

When a customer cannot find an obsolete part through traditional channels, the company taps into a global sourcing network. This process involves issuing requests for quotations, carefully vetting suppliers, and conducting initial inspections before procurement.

Each sourced part then undergoes rigorous verification, including high magnification inspection, x-ray analysis, material composition testing, mechanical analysis, and electrical performance validation. Even authentic components can present risks if stored improperly, so quality conformance is also determined.

If the exact part is unavailable, SMT offers value-added services such as advanced electrical testing to perform up-screening of lower-grade components to meet higher specifications or collaborating with manufacturers to resurrect and re-qualify parts. To support customers’ long term and end-of-life inventory requirements, it also provides warehousing, flexible delivery schedules, and specialized packaging to ensure parts are delivered when needed.

For SMT, bridging the gap between short-lived semiconductor components and long-serving critical systems is a core mission. By sourcing and authenticating obsolete parts to the highest standards and advancing detection methods, the company safeguards supply chain integrity, ensuring vital technologies remain reliable well into the future.