Which “catalog number” and “item description” should I use as TDK’s part number?
TDK reserves the term “part number” as the customer description for a specific component. TDK describes the component with item description. In the OEM channel, the customer part number is registered against the item description, and typically this customer part number has a customer specification that controls the component’s form/fit/function (see Figure 1).
In the distribution channel the customer uses TDK’s catalog number (see Figure 2). This catalog number is also assigned an item description, but in this case the specification used for form/fit/function is the TDK standard.
How the label has changed for the new catalog numbers
Distribution parts will be labeled with the catalog number in the customer part number field, and the item description in the item description field (see Figure 3).
OEM parts will be labeled with the OEM part number and item description (see Figure 4).
TDK’s item description is provided on both the distributor label and OEM label.
A counterfeit component is an electronic component manufactured by a supplier other than as labeled, with the intent to deceive the buyer.
Counterfeit components involve a great risk from unauthenticated parts being incorporated into customers’ products. Many suppliers are sensitive about this problem because there are problems with qualities and reliability of counterfeit components. By the time users notice, a large amount of counterfeit components may have been already used.
Why have the catalog number changed?
TDK responded to customer feedback and decided to provide a simplified global catalog number to assist world wide procurement efforts within the distribution channel. As a result, the last five digits were changed to indicate thickness, packaging and MLCC series detail. Catalog numbers ending with “/SOFT” and “(0.85)”, or abruptly ending after capacitance tolerance, are not necessary with the new TDK catalog number. (see Figure 5)
Figure 5: The new catalog number, whose last five digits were changed A counterfeit component is an electronic component manufactured by a supplier other than as labeled, with the intent to deceive the buyer.
Content and images provided courtesy of TDK’s FAQ
TDK FAQ: How has the label for the new catalog number changed?
TDK FAQ: Why have the catalog numbers changed?
TDK FAQ: Which “catalog number” and “item description” should I use as TDK’s part number?