Purchasing

What is the time to delivery for semiconductor products?

The time to delivery varies according to the product and the production conditions, so check with the distributor.
If distribution stock is available, time to delivery is likely to be quite short.
If distribution stock is insufficient, new production input is required.
In this case, the time to delivery may be several months (Note).
Therefore, be sure to notify your requirements to the distributor as early as possible.

Note Including production and inspection (which includes extended life testing)

Some products can also be purchased directly from NEC's Web shop if only small quantities are required.
NEC Device Web Shop

What will the characteristics of the delivered product be if I don't specify the rank classification that accompanies transistors and zener diodes?

If you don't specify the rank, the order will be handled as "all ranks" and a product with an arbitrary rank will be delivered. We cannot say which rank that will be.

In the case of zener diodes, if, for example, the rank classifications "B, B1, B2, B3" appear in the rank table, "B" is "all ranks" and includes the ranks of "B1, B2, B3". In this case, if there is no rank specification, the order is handled as "B" rank and a product with a rank of either "B1", "B2", or "B3" will be delivered.
The rank is shown on the packing label.
The rank is also indicated in the marking on the actual product, but the indication method differs depending on the product and package.

What is the meaning of the lot number of delivered products?

The lot number indicates the manufacturing date, rank, and in-house control code (not disclosed).
The manufacturing date, in the case of ICs, consists of the last two digits of the western calendar year and two digits of the week code, or in the case of discrete devices, just the last digit of the western calendar year and one digit of the month code.



Regarding product marking, due to space limitations, some items may be either omitted or represented using symbols. Therefore, depending on the products, some items may differ from the standard marking specifications. For more information regarding operational amplifiers/comparators, power supply ICs, transistors, and diodes, refer to their respective FAQ.

(2006/12)

Orders for some products for my new set are not accepted by distributors. Why?

These products are supplied only to sets that have been continuously using the products. This is a result of limited production.
In Japan, they are difficult to obtain unless they are stocked on the Japanese distributors (including at the Web shop).

(2006/10)

Some products are specified by distributors as phased-out products. Does this mean that production of these products has been stopped?

No. Phased-out products are spare parts for maintaining customers' sets and are produced only in the required quantity.
Usually, the production status changes as follows after mass production (for each product, consult a distributor).


When an announcement that a certain product will become a phased-out product is made, Japanese distributors notify their customers who have been using the product of the phased-out/discontinuation schedule.
When the product becomes a phased-out product, the customers notify their distributors of the required final quantity of the product. The product is then produced in those required quantities and production is discontinued.
The distributors are those who receive final demands for the product. How many products can be supplied is determined by the distributors. For details, consult your nearest distributor.

(2008/04)

How can I know whether a product is being mass produced?

For products that are not mass produced, check their stage by performing an Obsolete Product search. "Caution" is displayed for "new business not accepted" products. Some information related to the date at which products will enter the phased-out or discontinued stage, substitute products, and more can be viewed in the search results.

(2006/12)

Where can I purchase an NEC Electronics product in Japan?

NEC Electronics products are sold via the following sales channels in Japan. Please select whichever is appropriate for you.

(1)Store retail
NEC Electronics products are sold at some general electronics retailers. Please note, however, that not all retailers carry a full range of products. Fakes of our products have also been found, so if possible, please purchase them from our sales representatives.

(2)Web shop
NEC Electronics products can be ordered via the Web sites operated by our sales companies. Please note, however, that some products cannot be ordered on the Web. Online ordering of big quantities is also not possible. As above mentioned, please purchase them from the web site of our sales representatives.

(3)Sales representatives
NEC Electronics products can be ordered via contracted sales representatives (some of whom are on the Web). These channels can accommodate customers who wish to make big quantity orders or who need a continuous supply of products in anticipation of future demand.

(2006/03)

From which sales agent should I purchase an NEC Electronics product?

Unfortunately, the Antimonopoly Law prohibits us from specifying a particular sales agent.
Also, we are not privy to the details of the relationship between the customer and our sales agents.
Some customers have dealings with several sales agents; this is a decision that has to be made by the purchasing department of your company, so please confirm the sales agent from your purchasing department.
If you've never dealt with one of our sales agents, please talk with the agent nearest you.
Many sales representatives contracted by NEC Electronics may have branch offices, so sales agents can provide the products you need even in areas where there is no NEC Electronics branch.

(2006/03)

I want to purchase semiconductor devices from Web shop managed by a Japanese representative sales company of NEC Electronics to use in an automobile system. How should I specify the reliability?

Products having a high quality grade are not available from the Web shop.
Products with a special grade are necessary for transportation equipment and traffic systems, but the reliability of each product is separately supported because the ordering code and guaranty level differ from one product to another.
For special grade and specific grade products, consult your distributor.

(2008/02)

Products with a strange shape or marking have been delivered. Is there a problem?

It seems that imitations of NEC Electronics products that are no longer produced are being sold on the Internet. Imitation of another manufacturer's product has also been reported, in which the package contained no chips.
If the product you purchased does not satisfy the specification on the data sheet, could you please pursue an investigation from the distribution channel, starting from where you bought the product.
To prevent improvement in the accuracy of imitation techniques, detailed information cannot be publicized, but the following points can help you to detect a bogus product and should be treated as necessary conditions.

• The availability of many products which are no longer produced arouses suspicion.
• Is the marking (such as the NEC logo, part number, and lot number) official? (There is usually no manufacturing date lot after the date on which production was stopped.)
• Do the dimensions match those on the package drawing?
• Are the characters and contents on the label official?
• When the product is correctly designed, does it operate correctly?

Recently, a number of problems have been occurring especially with purchases made over the Internet. When purchasing over the Internet, be careful to check the following.

• Make sure that you are using an official NEC Electronics sales site (either an NEC Electronics Web shop, or an official third-party Web site), or an official NEC Electronics sales channel.
• Make sure that the site you are using handles inquiries properly (i.e. does not dismiss queries or complaints).

(2007/11)

I've seen NEC Electronics products being sold under another company's brand. Are these counterfeit products?

No, they may not be counterfeit products.
Discreet products with the same performance are permitted to use the same code as that of a given company, even if the products are manufactured by other companies.
Also, some of NEC Electronics semiconductor products in general are often shipped under an OEM brand name using customized markings. However, these products with customized markings are not available for purchase on the general market.
Note also that NEC Electronics often makes license contracts with other companies and they manufacture products as second source products (in this case, the part number is generally changed).

Counterfeit products are products that have been manufactured by another company without entering into a contract with the NEC Group (except equivalent discreet products).
Of particular concern are counterfeit products sold with counterfeited markings and packaging labels.

(2007/11)