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Be vigilant to avoid purchasing counterfeit items. We all know about the risks of suspect or counterfeit items (S/CI) in our personal and professional purchases, such as knock-off watches, contaminated pet food, bolts and electronic components, so we avoid questionable suppliers. We’ve heard stories of catastrophic equipment failures and pharmaceutical poisonings resulting from the use of S/CI. Depending solely on the reputation of your supplier or avoiding lowest-cost sources isn’t always enough. Many suppliers themselves are fooled and may unknowingly…

Consult your colleagues when brainstorming to solve problems. Someone might have already faced that issue! In the course of our work, we’ve all had a new technical responsibility assigned or been asked to implement a new administrative or regulatory practice. These responsibilities may fall outside our expertise or comfort zone. Our needs may be unique and we want to find the best solution to accomplish our task. Our first inclination may be to begin collecting information and formulating a plan…

Remember, you are the primary line of defense against S/CI, like these counterfeit watches. Photo: Gerald Nino. Office of Quality and Best Practices (OQBP) at Fermilab has recently concluded a lab-wide assessment of suspect or counterfeit items, in accordance with Fermilab’s Suspect/Counterfeit Items Program (S/CI). In the course of this assessment, several misconceptions about the nature of S/CI risks and control methods emerged: Myth #1: I purchase materials from reputable suppliers and don’t skimp on cost. I’m not at risk…

Counterfeit items can make it into all levels of supply chains. Be vigilant in checking any items you receive and use. Photo: Courtesy of the Department of Energy Suspect and counterfeit Items (S/CI) have made their way into nearly all facets of our lives, from the ink cartridges that we buy online to electrical equipment installed at Fermilab. The risk of using substandard counterfeit items continues to grow due to the high profits realized by counterfeiters. During a recent visit…