These illicit parts are manufactured to look like branded components but lack the quality control, testing, and material specifications of the original. They often cause premature failures or safety hazards in assembled products. Quality inspectors use lot tracking and material analysis to screen them out of the inventory system.
Heard on the job
Quarantine that whole pallet of sensors because QA suspects they're bootleg stock from an unapproved vendor.
Related terms
Defect
Any deviation from product specifications that impairs cosmetic appearance or functional performance.
Industrial quality
A standard of durability and performance designed to withstand heavy, continuous use in a factory setting.
MRB
A cross-functional team that evaluates nonconforming materials to decide their fate.