Obsolescence


Manage obsolescence WitH confidence


Managing director at Force Technologies, Karen Salmon, answers your queries onmanaging obsolescence safely


What can buyers do tominimise obsolescence- related supply chain problems?


Themost


Watch out for price hikes – they can indicate impending obsolescence saysmanaging director at Force Technologies, Karen Salmon


important thing is to register with component manufacturers to


receive product change notices (PCNs). This will normally give at least sixmonths’ notice of potential obsolescence.


Distributors should notify customers of parts that are going to


become obsolete however, if you use a number of distributors, or change suppliers frequently, this cannot be relied upon.


Where there is notification a product is going to become


obsolete,most companies will offer a last-time buy. You need to establish likely future demand and decide howmany to purchase, bearing inmind that buying a fewmore parts at a later date, or having themspeciallymanufactured, is likely to far exceed the cost of buyingmore today. Alternatively, use companies like Force Technology that can hold product in die formrather than finished form, completing the product as required to the desired environmental and test specification.


In some instances, a part becomes obsolete with virtually no


notice, yet theremay have been signs this was likely to happen. For example, a sudden large price increase is a common indicator of componentmakers trying to extractmaximumprofit during the ‘end of life’ of a part. Look out for this.


Howcan purchasers decide on themost cost-effective solution?


Start by contacting the original componentmanufacturer to find close alternatives to the obsolete part, such as hi-rel parts available at a different, but acceptable screening level.


If this doesn’t provide a solution, some distributors will help


with the search for a second source but it’s vital to avoid the grey market. Purchasing professionals are always under price pressure, but when it comes to obsolescence, unscrupulous vendors are always looking to exploit supply chain difficulties.


If alternative standard parts cannot be found, companies such 52 | August 2011


as Force Technologies canmanufacture new devices to the same specifications as the original part, including screening to the relevant standards. Of course, these parts have to be tested and qualified before approval. Despite these costs, this approach can still be a viable way forward. Force, sometimes in partnership with specialist distributors such as Solid State Supplies,may be able to mitigate up-front costs by holding semiconductor die, so you don’t need to purchase everything as finished parts up front.


What about reliability after die banking?


Finding alternatives to obsolete components always boils down to price versus confidence in quality. Reputable companies that manufacture replacement components will always use die from known sources with full traceability.


They will have storage and test programs for die packaging and


will implement long-termprograms of preparing die and lot qualifying it for assembly and test on a regular basis. Bona fide manufactured parts will be as good as the originals in every respect, including screening tomil specs, which further boosts reliability. All this adds cost, but buyers need to weigh this against the possible consequences of component failure, should they purchase fromless credible vendors.


How can buyers spot counterfeit parts?


Poor componentmarking is a common clue. Complex functional testing over the component’s specified temperature can also reveal problems. For example, Force through Solid State Supplies, has Authenticare processes that range froma 57-point goods- inward inspection to full parametric testing.


What should buyers know about tin whiskers?


Where end products are destined formilitary or higher-grade industrial andmedicalmarkets, we see no confidence in RoHS devices with lead-free finishes.When sourcing for themil/aero market, the prime contractor, or a component standards engineer, should define the lead finish required. If a tin-lead (SnPb) solder finish is needed to avoid potential whiskers, but the component isn’t available with this finish, third parties can strip and SnPb dip the leads and test to verify the final finish.


www.forcetechnologies.co.uk www.electronics-sourcing.co.uk


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