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Component obsolescence is one of the biggest issues facing the electronics field in 2023 and threatens to result in high levels of expenditure that will need resolving. We’ll take you through the issue of obsolescence and help you to find solutions that will work without costing you more than you are willing to pay.
What is obsolescence?
Component obsolescence occurs when a component manufacturer discontinues a product line because it is not in demand and costs them more to keep in stock than it makes in sales. In these cases, the obsolescence is known as EOL or End of Life and comes with an LBD or Last buy Date to allow customers to get hold of the component before it stops being made.
Obsolescence can also occur when a component is updated or required to be amended, pushing customers into changing designs or picking new alternatives. This is known as PCN or Product Change Notification and comes with a clear overview of what changes will be made so that customers can decide if they will suffer a negative impact should they fail to update their current component.
Why is component obsolescence a problem now?
The issue of component obsolescence isn’t a new problem, but the difficulty has grown significantly in recent years, making it harder for customers to deal with. There are two main reasons why component obsolescence has become a hugely significant issue:
- Firstly, because there are issues with supply chains, making it harder for components to be sent to the people that need them, when they need them
- Secondly, because the falling demand for components is resulting in fewer being made and many being taken out of production altogether
How can obsolescence be solved?
While the issue of component obsolescence doesn’t seem to be one that is dissipating anytime soon, there are some solutions to the problem that can help customers ensure that they are able to overcome issues with finding new components when they need them:
- Look for equivalent components – it may sound obvious, but there are many component suppliers that are able to provide equivalent components to the ones that have been made obsolete. These equivalents can be easily installed and keep the system running without any issues
- Redesign your PCB – if there are no appropriate equivalent components available, you can choose to have your PCB redesigned, so that alternative components can be used instead. Choosing to redesign is typically much cheaper than replacing the entire system too, meaning that it will cost you less
Get the right PCB assembly
If you are using PCB assembly services, then taking the time to consider future component availability can help you avoid the issue of obsolescence in the future. At Sellectronics, we offer a range of PCB services including prototyping, assembly and full product builds. We will work with you to future-proof your purchase in order to avoid the issue of obsolescence.
Get in touch with our team to arrange an initial discussion so that we can provide you with a clear overview of how we can help.