DISTRIBUTION
Top Tips to help avoid EoL issues by John Dodds, BEC Distribution sales director
T
he issue of components going into EoL is not a new problem, but more parts are entering the obsolescence phase faster than ever. Many excellent articles have been written on the subject, but here are some of the most important “Top Tips” to employ.
Utilise newer technologies Components using the latest technologies will be mass-produced and choosing cutting-edge components in your product design will potentially offer volume cost savings and shorter lead times. They will also potentially have a longer availability, pushing EoL issues into the future when your end-product may well have reached its own end-of-life, completely avoiding future component supply issues.
Design with smaller package sizes The size of the component package will also have a bearing on the longevity of the component. The smaller the package size, the longer its future will be. Choosing the smallest packaging can extend the life of your product.
Invest in a safety stock Ideally, establish a good level of “safety your product and unexpected short-term supply issues which may occur before EoL becomes an issue. This is an excellent strategy if it is anticipated that manufacture of a key component will drop off sooner rather than later.
Schedule future orders
By scheduling component orders as far as possible into the future, this will have a positive effect on costs and lead times, sidestepping a future problem as a part goes into EOL.
What to do if the component rapidly enters EoL
Always be on the lookout for Last Time Buy once the component is no longer in volume production. It is worth the investment to place a good-sized LTB order to support your product whilst you design-out the obsolete components.
16 NOVEMBER 2024 | ELECTRONICS FOR ENGINEERS
Partner with a trusted components distributor
An “Added-Value” distributor like BEC Distribution can help design-out components and replace them with newer quality alternatives with short lead times, typically 6 to 8 weeks. BEC also has large stocks of obsolete products available ex-stock. BEC’s range of EoL replacements and pin-for-pin replacements includes shielded power inductors, multi-layer ceramic chip inductors, radial peaking coils, open inductors.
Purchase surplus stock Be on the lookout for surplus stock; other companies producing end-products may have invested in spare component stock, but decide to free up capital and storage space by selling off stock they no longer need. Surplus stock opportunities do not happen very often, but keep an eye out for online offers from reputable manufacturers of end-products.
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