Natalie Paull
Director of Quality Management
In 2015, Natalie joined and brought Direct Components to AS9120 certification. Natalie brings nearly 20 years of experience in the electronics industry and leads our Quality Department. As a certified Lead Auditor for ISO and AS9100, Natalie is passionate about quality and continuous improvement. Natalie works diligently to ensure our processes run smoothly and our ISO, AS9120, AS6081, and ESD certifications are maintained to the highest standard.
Natalie Shares Her Experience Over Her Long Career in ICs
Ten years ago, I started at Direct Components and the world of electronic component distribution looked very different. Some of the challenges were the same—ensuring product authenticity and reliability has always been important in our industry—but the solutions and best practices for mitigating counterfeit parts were not as standardized or refined as they are today.
Over the last decade, I have watched our company grow to meet and exceed new industry standards. Our most recent achievement of the AS6081 certification has been a huge milestone that truly shows how far we have come in the industry to better protect our customers from the risks of counterfeit components.
As the Director of Quality Management, I oversee our quality assurance processes and have the privilege of working alongside a team that is passionate about excellence, which is one of our five core values.
Receiving our AS6081 certification was no small feat. It’s a rigorous, internationally recognized standard for detecting and avoiding counterfeit electronic parts, which means that every piece of our supply chain—from initial sourcing to final inspection—is held to the highest level of scrutiny. With this certification, our customers’ benefits go up while their risks go down.
When you partner with us, you gain an extra layer of protection for your products. Each electronic component that passes through our doors is subjected to a robust series of inspections, verifications, and record-keeping protocols.
The certification signifies that we have comprehensive procedures in place to identify potential counterfeit activity, whether it emerges in supplier relationships, documentation irregularities, or specific part characteristics during testing.
Our entire inspection team is trained to detect and isolate any discrepancies so you can feel confident about the parts you receive.
One major advantage of the certification is the transparency that AS6081 promotes. When available, traceability is one aspect of the certification that reinforces how vital it is to maintain detailed documentation of each component’s journey.
Our customers, from large-scale manufacturers to specialized OEMs, benefit from knowing exactly where their parts originated and how they were verified.
This depth of information not only provides peace of mind but also allows for swift action if any issues arise down the road.
Many people ask how the certification impacts our day-to-day operations. I can say that it has made our processes more streamlined and proactive.
By following a standardized framework for counterfeit mitigation, we can identify and address any issues early.
We have strengthened our supplier partnerships, refined our internal practices, and elevated our in-house testing capabilities. These improvements protect our customers from fraudulent parts that could compromise their own products.
Beyond the protocols and systems, AS6081 also represents our focus on improvement. In my decade with Direct Components, I have seen firsthand how important it is for a company to adapt to industry changes and anticipate future challenges.
AS6081 is not a box we can check and then ignore.
Maintaining this certification requires continuous oversight, training, and a culture that embraces quality as an ongoing commitment. By investing in these efforts, our entire organization helps customers feel safer and know we are a reliable choice.
Ultimately, I believe our AS6081 certification serves as a promise that we will never compromise on the integrity of your supply chain. We have always been dedicated to offering high-quality components, but now we have an internationally recognized standard that solidifies our approach and proves our dedication to counterfeit prevention.
Whether your end product is destined for the aerospace sector, the medical field, or consumer electronics, our certification helps safeguard the dependability of your designs and reinforces the trust between us and you, our customers.
With each milestone, including this AS6081 certification, we reaffirm our commitment to being at the forefront of counterfeit mitigation. Our team stands ready to uphold these standards every single day.
We look forward to supporting you as a partner who values reliability and the success of your projects just as much as you do.
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Natalie Paul,
Director of Quality Management at Direct Components, Inc.
Questions on AS6081 or our Quality Processes? Email Natalie at qc@directics.com
