By John Keller

BROOKLYN, N.Y. - Leaders of Components International, an electronics distributor in Brooklyn, N.Y., are spearheading a new movement in components purchasing that includes services such as fulfilling government-mandated minority and urban-renewal set asides.

Components International Chief Executive Officer Nathan Hecht calls this new approach universal distribution, which offers not only a wide variety of electronic parts through its independent distributor channels, but also the diversity quotas that government contracts can impose.

Specifically, Components International has certificates for small disadvantaged business (SDB), minority development business (MDBA), and historically underutilized business zone (HUBZone).

In essence, by partnering with Components International, primes and subcontractors can fulfill the SDB, MDBA, and HUBZone requirements spelled in typical government contracts.

Components International also is an independent distributor, not a franchise distributor, which gives the company the freedom to stock a broad variety of up-to-date and aftermarket electronic parts at affordable prices, Hecht says.

Large franchise distributors such as Arrow and Avnet have partnered with Components International to gain access to some of the esoteric parts that military contracts call for, and also to achieve the government-imposed diversity quotas, he says.

Components International programs include applying services aimed at specific supply chain problems with no up-front costs, no fees for service, and no penalties, company officials say.

Outsourceable services the company offers to military contract manufacturers include mil-spec component sourcing, parts upscreening, engineering support, component burn-in, programming, labeling, military packaging, marking, kitting, cost control, supply chain management.

“For more than two years we have worked with Components International to reduce our overhead and streamline our purchasing logics, progressively expanding our relationship,” says Tom Terlizzi, vice president and general manager of microelectronics at military electronics subcontractor Aeroflex Inc. in Plainview, N.Y.

“We have reached a point where we can provide Components International with drawings and in a matter of a few weeks or even days, our shipping department receives the parts we need at the best price,” Terlizzi says.

“Furthermore, they are fully upscreened, tested, packaged, marked, or kitted as necessary, and we do not have to worry about any excess costs or failures,” he says.

For more information contact Components International online at www.comp-int.com.