A proposed alternative is a candidate for review. Procurement can collect the evidence, but the engineering team responsible for the design must decide whether it meets the application requirements.
Start with the original requirement
Keep the approved full part number and BOM revision visible. Write down why a change is being considered and which requirements cannot move. Put the candidate manufacturer code on a separate line so it cannot silently replace the original.
Build a comparison your engineer can use
- Mechanical: package drawing, footprint, pin assignment, height and assembly requirements.
- Electrical: operating ranges, critical limits and behaviour under the design's actual conditions.
- System: interface, firmware, startup behaviour, timing and calibration where applicable.
- Application: temperature, qualification, reliability and any customer-specific approval requirements.
Reference current manufacturer datasheets and record their revisions. TI's cross-reference tool can help find candidates for comparison; the result still needs application review. TI's packaging resources can help check drawings and carrier details.
Separate technical approval from an offer
A technically accepted candidate still needs a specific commercial review. Confirm full ordering code, quantity, condition, source information, available documentation, orderability, delivery assumptions and agreed acceptance terms.
Where authorisation is claimed, check the original manufacturer's directory, such as ADI's authorised distributor directory. A cross-reference result does not establish a seller's authorisation or the authenticity of a particular lot.
Close the change deliberately
Record the responsible approver, required tests and any restrictions. Update the approved BOM only after the design owner completes the appropriate review and validation. State whether approval applies to one purchase, one product revision or future orders.
Does pin compatibility establish equivalence?
No. It is one part of the comparison; electrical, timing, thermal and system behaviour still need review.
Can I ask for alternatives before approval?
Yes. Mark them as candidates for engineering review and keep them separate from the approved purchase requirement.
General purchasing guidance. This note does not approve a design, establish a supplier relationship or confirm a current offer.