1. Confirm identity before comparing price

Start with the approved BOM ordering code, including every suffix. Add the manufacturer, package, grade and packing requirement. An abbreviated code can lead to a quote for a different device, even when the description appears similar. Keep an internal purchasing reference in a separate field.

Check the relevant manufacturer datasheet and lifecycle notice. Record which code is affected and whether a last-time-buy window remains. A family page or an EOL notice for a different package is not enough to establish the status of your requirement.

If a supplier proposes an alternative, ask for its complete identity and keep it separate from the original line. Engineering should compare pinout, limits, timing, package and the actual application before approval. Do not silently accept a replacement under the original part number.

  • Full manufacturer ordering code and approved package.
  • Required grade and packing format.
  • Applicable datasheet, lifecycle notice and revision.
  • Explicit approval route for any proposed alternative.

2. Review labels, packaging and available records

Ask for legible photos of the actual offered lot where available, with the packaging and labels linked to the quoted quantity. Establish whether containers are sealed, opened, partial or repackaged. Record mixed date or lot codes rather than describing the whole offer as one lot without explanation.

Source records may include relevant purchase, delivery or incoming-review documents. Ask what is available, what is missing and what is a seller declaration. A record should relate to the offered lot, not merely demonstrate that the business has traded a similar part before.

TI recommends buying directly or through its authorised distributors and warns that convincing markings can still appear on counterfeit products. Visual checks alone therefore do not establish authenticity. Manufacturer guidance is a reason to examine the route and evidence, not a claim that icultra has manufacturer authorisation.

  • Match photos and documents to the particular quoted line.
  • Distinguish original packaging from repackaging.
  • State gaps without substituting a generic certificate.
  • Agree any further verification needed for the application.

3. Establish availability and the acceptance scope

Ask whether the quantity has been physically identified, is offered through another supplier or still needs confirmation. The lead-time statement should say whether it is a commitment or an estimate. Ask how the offer changes if only part of the requested quantity can be supplied.

Define the acceptance basis before placing an order. Depending on the application, your organisation may require incoming checks or external verification. Specify the responsible party, sample scope, reporting, cost and the agreed response to a failed check. An undefined promise that parts are “tested” does not describe a procedure.

Do not describe a verification activity as a universal guarantee. A particular check answers a particular question. Your quality and engineering teams should decide whether the proposed evidence and review scope meet the programme requirements.

  • Quoted quantity, offer validity and availability basis.
  • Source-document deliverables and known gaps.
  • Inspection responsibility and agreed reporting.
  • Terms for discrepancies, rejection or quantity shortfall.

4. Reconcile the received lot with the offer

On receipt, compare the delivered ordering codes, quantities, labels, packaging and agreed records with the accepted offer. Preserve the lot identity through your incoming process. Mixed lots should remain identifiable rather than being combined simply because they share a nominal MPN.

If there is a discrepancy, keep the affected material separate and follow your organisation’s review process before releasing it to production. Save the quotation, correspondence and evidence needed to explain the difference. This also helps avoid confusing an ordering error with a question about product condition.

For an icultra enquiry, send the complete MPN, quantity, delivery destination and your documentation and acceptance requirements. Ask the offer to identify the available evidence and any unresolved checks. The sourcing conversation should make the purchase decision clearer, rather than replacing your programme’s approval process.

Sources and further reading

Manufacturer documents support the technical guidance above. They do not confirm our stock, authorisation or the condition of any offered lot.