Electronic Part Obsolescence Forecasting and Decision Making

Electronic parts have a shorter life cycle than the products they are used in. To maintain market advantage and product enhancement, the manufacturer of a major electronic system used for a sustainment dominated asset, may discontinue production to develop and promote a newer and improved model of the same type of equipment. In this situation it is not the reliability of the electronic asset that is driving replacement but rather supportability driven by product obsolescence.

Businesses are impacted by obsolete technologies in many ways, it impacts their cost of doing business, profit and daily operation, therefore, obsolescence represents a risk to the business which needs to be considered and appropriately addressed, management must consider the implications of technological obsolescence on all aspects of their operations when making decisions. Forecasting and an informed decision-making process are able to achieve a cost-effective sustainment of an asset without compromising its capability, availability and reliability. A matrix was developed to forecast the supportability of electronic parts along with a decision-making flowchart for proactive obsolescence management.