The Princeps way

Princeps has been built on the three fundamental principles: Quality, Service and Communication – The Princeps Way. This is our commitment to our customers and it is what sets us apart and makes us different from other distributors. 

Quality 

Princeps belongs to a global elite of electronic, electrical and electromechanical (EEE) component distributors, holding both AS9120 and AS6081 accreditations. Both standards require a multi-stage certification process, followed by periodic surveillance audits to ensure compliance is maintained throughout the three-year certification cycle. 

Traceability – AS9120 

We operate a quality management system that meets the stringent requirements of the AS9120 standard. AS9120 is based on ISO 9001, but includes almost 100 additional requirements specific to aerospace distributors. AS9120 provides us with a comprehensive quality system focused on areas directly impacting product traceability, safety and reliability. Read more about Princeps full traceability service and what this means.

Counterfeit risk mitigation – AS6081 

Few distributors take counterfeit mitigation as seriously as we do – and fewer still hold AS6081 certification to back up this claim. We know that the parts you need are not always available with full traceability – either because they are obsolete, unavailable or on long lead times. In these instances, AS6081 provides direction on how the risks associated with parts sourced on the open market can be mitigated. Read more about how we can help solve your obsolescence problems.

Continuous Improvement 

We are committed to a continuous improvement process that covers every aspect of our operation, with a relentless focus on achieving total customer satisfaction. We never rest on our laurels: we realise that our customers’ requirements are constantly evolving – and if we are to continue meeting them, then we must evolve too. 

Service 

The Princeps Way is our statement of intent for serving you. It can be summed up by the phrase, “hassle free” – and it is how we ensure total customer satisfaction. We constantly gather and analyse customer feedback to ensure that our high standards are being maintained. 

Vendor tail management 

Vendor reduction is proven to bring efficiency improvements and to lower costs. We can successfully consolidate the unproductive slew of suppliers for customers. Our OEM customers have found this service particularly useful, providing them with supply chain performance efficiencies and reduced total cost of acquisition. Find out more about our vendor tail management service.

Secure open market sourcing 

If manufacturer-authorised sources are not available, we work with our customers to find them safe, feasible alternatives on the open market to keep their lines running. Find out more about Princeps secure open market sourcing service.

Kitting 

To simplify the assembly of components, we offer kitting solutions including complete project management of sourcing, traceability and FAIRs (First Article Inspection Reports). Find out more about our kitting service.

No Restrictions 

We have no restrictions on the range of manufacturers we can offer or product ranges we can provide. Our customers love the flexibility, allied to the security of traceability, that we can offer them – even for commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) products. 

Global reach 

Our global experience enables us to navigate the potentially hazardous global supply chain and procure parts for our customers. Employing our worldwide network of thousands of manufacturer-authorised sources enables us to achieve the very best pricing on current product, while maintaining traceability. Why settle for one or two franchised sources, when you could enjoy the flexibility that our network offers? 

Buffer stock, kanban and blanket orders 

With lean practices flourishing throughout the electronic manufacturing industry, our provision of buffer stock, kanban and blanket orders helps give our customers peace of mind. They know that we are holding an agreed buffer stock level for their key lines, allowing them to minimise their stock holding and maximise their productivity. 

Flexibility 

Our flexibility and can-do attitude enables us to continually exceed our customers’ expectations in a rapidly shifting global environment. 

Communication 

Transparency 

We listen to our customers and continuously refine our service offering to better meet their needs. Our customers help us to be the very best we can. So, whether it is qualifying an RFQ, confirming an order or notifying a despatch, our transparent two-way communication process is central to everything else we do. 

Tenacity 

We go the extra mile to locate elusive stock items which are holding back our customers’ production, even to the extent of negotiating an extension to manufacturer last time buy (LTB), to save them from expensive re-design and re-qualification processes. We offer an alternative to the frustrating “computer says no” attitude of franchised distributors that, faced with similar circumstances, will often only advise that there is no chance of the part being available again from the manufacturer.