Arrow Enhances Component Management Tools
Recently, Arrow enhanced their online component selection and management services, Arrow Risk Manager and Arrow Alert. In line with industry trends and needs, Arrow improved access to specific information about RoHS and Lead-Free compliance of individual components.
Previously, this information was contained in the part information pages. From a project detail view inside Arrow Risk Manager, you could click on a part info link and view the associated data in a separate window.
Now, all the compliance data is displayed very conveniently in the Environmental Data view. All you do is open a project and select the Environmental Data view. Then you will see the usual part ID information, plus two compliance columns: Lead-Free Compliancy Status and RoHS Compliancy Status.
The two column labels are smart headings. Click on the little triangle in either one and the table expands to include a Date column. Click on any heading and the project is sorted by that column. The cross-reference link under the Part Information heading will show any available alternatives that are compliant. For example, Analog Devices' AD5324BRM contains lead, but the cross-reference shows that the AD5324BRMZ is RoHS compliant and lead-free.
In addition to these improved parts management tools, Arrow Alert will now send out PCNs and EOLs specific to environmental data. Thus, you can be informed when compliant parts become available or if a compliant part suddenly becomes non-compliant. Hopefully, the latter just won't happen.
Lastly, Arrow plans to add material content data to the tools by mid-2005. This will include weight and ppm substance data, CAS number, terminal finish, reflow temperature, moisture sensitivity level, JEDEC standard, and the supplier compliant data code.
These are much welcomed changes, and they greatly enhance the usability of Risk Manager for working through compliance issues.
