Approved Vendor List (AVL) for China Sourcing
1 resources tagged with "Approved Vendor List"
An Approved Vendor List pins each line on your BOM to specific, qualified suppliers — by manufacturer part number, not a generic spec — so the factory can't silently substitute a cheaper equivalent. For China-sourced electronics this is the single biggest defense against undocumented part swaps, which are routine when a factory hits a shortage or finds a cheaper drop-in. A working AVL pairs the MPN with approved Chinese distributors (LCSC, authorized reps) and the lifecycle status of each part.
Maintaining an AVL means deciding which parts are single-sourced (locked MPN) versus where alternates are pre-approved, and writing that into the BOM so the contract manufacturer knows the rules. The pitfall is leaving lines as generic descriptions — '0.1µF X7R 0603' instead of an MPN — which gives the factory license to use whatever is cheapest that week, including counterfeit or out-of-spec parts.
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FAQ
What is an Approved Vendor List in electronics manufacturing?
An AVL is a documented list of qualified suppliers for each component on your BOM, identified by manufacturer part number. It controls which parts and vendors the factory is allowed to use, preventing unapproved substitutions.
How does an AVL prevent part substitution by Chinese factories?
By specifying exact manufacturer part numbers and approved distributors instead of generic descriptions, the AVL removes the factory's discretion to swap in cheaper or counterfeit equivalents without your sign-off.
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