Suppliers getting up to speed on RoHS

The European Union’s Regulations on Hazardous Substances (RoHS) will go into effect on July 1, 2006, and how are component suppliers doing in converting to lead-free parts? Phoenix-based distributor Avnet conducted a follow-up to its 2004 study of supplier compliance and found that component manufacturers are making progress, but there are still plenty of unresolved issues about part numbering and plans for handling in excess in leaded parts.

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The 2004 study showed that only 52 per cent of suppliers planned to assign new lead-free part numbers. The current study shows that number rising to 71 per cent.

“This is one of the metrics we were hoping would improve, but it still isn’t where we want it,” said Jim Smith, v-p of logistics for Avnet Electronics Marketing, Avnet’s component division.


Almost 58 per cent of suppliers said they plan to designate compliance by providing information on their packaging, up from 37 per cent last year.


The US National Electronics Distribution Association has been calling on suppliers to use unique part numbers for compliant parts, but many suppliers have balked, saying it’s too cumbersome to maintain a completely new set of numbers.

As for potential prices increases or supply interruptions, the new report indicates most suppliers are optimistic about the transition. Most component producers do not foresee price increases as a result of RoHS and they also do not expect supply chain disruptions due to inventory excess or a shortfall in affected parts.

“We hope the suppliers are right about that; however, with hundreds of thousands of parts changing as a result of these requirements, we are not ready to declare victory just yet,” said Smith. “There is still a huge amount of work for the industry to do.”

The study results show that most component manufacturers have no plans for handling excess parts containing lead. Only 29 per cent indicated they have plans for leaded product inventory, while 31 per cent report no plans.

See also: Electronics Weekly’s roundup of content related to The ROHS Directive


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