Procurement Engineering
Our commercial and technical expertise ensures that we recommend, select, and supply components from trusted manufacturing sources, effectively avoiding counterfeits. Every EEE part procured undergoes rigorous inspection and testing to guarantee compliance with:
- Quality and reliability requirements.
- Cost constraints and budget.
- Delivery schedules.
Our procurement services can be delivered through two main approaches:
Co-ordinated parts procurement
This approach is ideal for satellites with ESA as the end customer and a prime contractor. It involves a centralized agent (CPPA – Coordinated Parts Procurement Agency) managing purchase orders from various users, consolidating needs, and interfacing with manufacturers. Key features include:
- Centralized Interface: CPPA acts as the focal point for all EEE parts procurement, standardizing part types and ensuring compliance with PA requirements.
- Declared Component List (DCL) Management: Users provide their DCLs, which are analyzed and discussed for standardization and approval.
- Consolidated Procurement: CPPA places purchase orders, performs follow-ups, inspections, and tests, and coordinates shipments to users.
Advantages
- Streamlined communication with manufacturers.
- Reduced costs through consolidated orders.
- Consistent quality assurance.
Direct Procurement service
For projects requiring direct interaction with equipment manufacturers, we provide:
- Preparation and integration of procurement specifications.
- Implementation and maintenance of the Component Procurement and Control Plan.
- Obsolescence management and evaluation of alternatives.
- Creation of evaluation, screening, and radiation test plans.
- Manufacturer audits and capability assessments.
- Comprehensive reliability analysis and test result evaluations.
- Component database management for streamlined tracking.
Procurement Engineering
Ensuring full compliance with project quality requirements
Selecting and procuring the right EEE parts is critical to meeting the challenging environmental, mechanical, and radiation conditions in the space industry. Our flexible services adapt to each project’s requirements, including:
- Technical support, parts engineering, and testing to ensure proper selection and usage.
- Identification, definition, and selection of parts and suppliers.
- Documentation generation, including PADs, specifications, and test plans.
- Ordering and follow-up of parts.
- ITAR compliance management.
- Comprehensive inspection and testing of parts.
- EEE parts product assurance and risk mitigation.
- Failure and non-conformance management.
- Obsolescence management and storage solutions.
Procurement Testing
When failure is not an option
EEE components for space applications must reliably endure extreme conditions, including:
Our experts ensure components meet these rigorous standards through extensive testing, such as:
- Incoming inspection.
- Destructive Physical Analysis (DPA).
- Screening and Evaluation Testing.
- Lot Acceptance Tests (LAT).
- Relifing services.
ALTER is responsible for assessing the physical, electrical, and environmental characteristics of procured parts using calibrated equipment. All tests adhere to specified procedures and methods, ensuring reliable performance and compliance with project specifications.
Why choose ALTER for your engineering needs?
Partner with us and experience a streamlined, efficient process that takes your engineering projects to the next level.
Proven expertise in space-grade and high-reliability applications.
A dedicated team focused on delivering innovative, reliable solutions.
End-to-end support from design to procurement and logistics.