I have heard of mfgs using XRF guns to inspect their incoming stock. However this is generally not accepted as a initial qualification, only to validate incoming material as an A / B comparison. RoHS still requires a ppm assessment after breaking down to homogeneous levels.
Here in the USA, I suggest eliminating the trips to the local hardware store and buy from a distributor such as Grainger, McMaster, Hardware Specialty or others. They are all beginning ear marking parts for their RoHS compliance and sell in affordable quantites. This will require a little discipline in a small business. I know how it is, trying to keep minimum stocking quantities low and having those days where you suddenly realize you are about to run out of a certain item that normally costs pennies. Establishing an inventory system may be required where you track usage, ordering lead time by supplier, identify minimum order quantities, calculate ordering points, etc. I know more than a few who do this solely in spreadsheets. Thanks, - doug Douglas Powell http://www.linkedin.com/in/dougp01 Original Message From: John Woodgate Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2014 7:29 AM To: [email protected] Reply To: John Woodgate Subject: Re: [PSES] RoHS on Hardware In message <64D32EE8B9CBDD44963ACB076A5F6ABB026954D2@Mailbox-Tech.lecotech.local>, dated Wed, 14 May 2014, "Kunde, Brian" <[email protected]> writes: > In fact, some of our “specialty hardware” has such a long supply >chain in most cases we cannot even find out who made the part. > > > >As an example, for some parts, we might go over to our local Ace >hardware store and buy a handful of parts which will last us two years >worth of production. > No doubt those two scenarios apply to different parts. For parts you can get from the hardware store, you can probably get them from Mouser or so, with RoHS. For other parts, there may be no alternative to switch to a local jobbing supplier who can certify RoHS. > > >So here is the problem; with such long supply chains we are having a >very difficult time getting RoHS supporting documentation for such >hardware. So any advice or options would be most appreciated. What are >other companies out there doing in such cases? There is a lot of advice to SMEs about this available in Europe, but I don't know about elsewhere. > > > >Being an EMC/Safety guy I really do not have much knowledge in all the >procurement stuff, however, would it be a practical option to >periodically pull a small sample of all such parts and have them tested >for RoHS? Option of last resort, probably, unless the part can be analysed by one of the clever new rapid methods, which may not be prohibitively costly. -- OOO - Own Opinions Only. With best wishes. See www.jmwa.demon.co.uk Nondum ex silvis sumus John Woodgate, J M Woodgate and Associates, Rayleigh, Essex UK - ---------------------------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE Product Safety Engineering Society emc-pstc discussion list. To post a message to the list, send your e-mail to <[email protected]> All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: http://www.ieee-pses.org/emc-pstc.html Attachments are not permitted but the IEEE PSES Online Communities site at http://product-compliance.oc.ieee.org/ can be used for graphics (in well-used formats), large files, etc. Website: http://www.ieee-pses.org/ Instructions: http://www.ieee-pses.org/list.html (including how to unsubscribe) List rules: http://www.ieee-pses.org/listrules.html For help, send mail to the list administrators: Scott Douglas <[email protected]> Mike Cantwell <[email protected]> For policy questions, send mail to: Jim Bacher: <[email protected]> David Heald: <[email protected]> - ---------------------------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE Product Safety Engineering Society emc-pstc discussion list. To post a message to the list, send your e-mail to <[email protected]> All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: http://www.ieee-pses.org/emc-pstc.html Attachments are not permitted but the IEEE PSES Online Communities site at http://product-compliance.oc.ieee.org/ can be used for graphics (in well-used formats), large files, etc. Website: http://www.ieee-pses.org/ Instructions: http://www.ieee-pses.org/list.html (including how to unsubscribe) List rules: http://www.ieee-pses.org/listrules.html For help, send mail to the list administrators: Scott Douglas <[email protected]> Mike Cantwell <[email protected]> For policy questions, send mail to: Jim Bacher: <[email protected]> David Heald: <[email protected]>
