Obsolescence


UnderSTand The caUSe, find The cUre


Considering external conditions helps to plan against short-term component obsolescence, explains business development manager, Solid State Supplies, Andy Cornwell


Using commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) parts has provided a fillip to many market sectors where obsolescence may have been a looming concern. It promotes confidence in manufacturing capacity which can extend the product’s life-cycle and lower the unit price and it encourages manufacturers to continue with or even develop older product families.


In the prevailing economic climate however, it can also lead to


difficulties. Manufacturers rationalise their product families, lead-times are extended as distributors receive fewer long-term schedules and manufacturers begin to reduce plant activity.


These factors all play a role in managing obsolescence but


there are others. Using the Steeple framework can help identify these factors and mitigate their impact. Steeple is an acronym that covers the social/demographic, technological, economical, environmental, political, legal and ethical factors affecting semiconductor component sourcing, as well as other obsolescence issues, and can help when developing a plan against obsolescence.


Safeguard skills


From a social/demographic point of view, the obsolescence of certain skills can cause problems if not considered carefully. Software programming languages are an example of skills which can go obsolete. New languages are introduced more and more frequently and engineers recruited in the future may not be able to understand the languages used in the past. Training programs which ensure there is more than one person in a


40 | November 2010


company that possesses a certain skill can help.


The problem


extends beyond software since there are fewer graduates choosing to study electronics in the UK than ever before. This could lead to a skills shortage across the electronics sector in the future. As production continues to be off-shored, existing skills within manufacturing will be lost if they are not replaced by the next generation of graduates.


COTS parts can cause as many problems as they solve says business development manager, Solid State Supplies, Andy Cornwell


Track technology


Continued developments in ICs and the trend for system-on- chip (SoC) solutions can lower time to market, but with shorter product lifecycles those same SoCs are following their own product roadmap which may be influenced by economic conditions. Dependence on the latest technology can therefore cause obsolescence issues. Technologies developed for the consumer sector present a dilemma to companies targeting the military and aerospace markets, as it is precisely these technologies which offer the greatest design freedom and innovation. Choosing the right solution from the right manufacturing partner is crucial to COTS customers.


www.electronics-sourcing.eu


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