Obsolescence monitoring service

Citation

(2007), "Obsolescence monitoring service", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 79 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2007.12779fab.005

Obsolescence monitoring service

Obsolescence monitoring service

IGG Component Technology Ltd has consolidated its wide-ranging experience in component obsolescence with the launch of an all-encompassing EEE component monitoring service, “ObsServe”. The new service is designed to deliver major cost savings by identifying 100 per cent of components at risk of obsolescence and recommending the best solution, without the need to engage with multiple Bill of Materials (BOM) monitoring tools.

The ObsServe process starts with a thorough “cleansing”' of the BOM. This involves a line-by-line review to match the component description and nomenclature to the reference databases. Once the BOM is matched to the databases, a check is made to identify the components at risk of obsolescence. Using Apollo voting (Boolean Logic), components are classified under three colour-coded categories according to the obsolescence risk. Red indicates that the part is subject to an existing Product Change Notification (PCN) or Last Time Buy (LTB) alert, or has already been made obsolete by the manufacturer. Amber signifies restricted availability or the risk of obsolescence in the near future. Green means that the part will continue to be available, though its future lifespan could be as short as three months in the case of commercial parts.

Once the component classification is complete, IGG taps into a wide range of sources in order to identify the most appropriate solution for each component which is found to be as risk. This may involve using alternative parts, sourcing parts using innovative solutions, the sourcing and assembly of die-banked material, upscreening (upgrading) of a near equivalent component, reverse engineering of the component, or the emulation or re- packaging of die into the required footprint and format.

After the initial cleansing process, which is the most significant task, the customer's

BOM is monitored by IGG at frequent, regular intervals. This ongoing activity is essential, says the company's Aerospace and defence manager, Lloyd Francis.

“Obsolescence is a continuous cycle of decay, so obsolescence management has to be an ongoing process,” said Francis. “ObsServe breaks the downward spiral of obsolescence by cleansing the BOM and keeping on top of it thereafter. Importantly, customers benefit from an improved service at reduced cost, compared with purchasing multiple BOM monitoring tools, leaving them free to focus on their core activities and increasing the funds available for obsolescence mitigation”.

Design engineers in aerospace and defence increasingly face the risk of component obsolescence. It has been estimated that electronic components are now becoming obsolete at a rate of over 13,000 per month. The market share for military and aerospace grades, which traditionally had long life-cycles, has shrunk from 9 per cent of the overall electronics market in 1984 to as little as 0.3 per cent in 2007, according to various reports. Compounding this, the lifetimes of systems and platforms are being extended, whilst the in-house engineering resources of primes and OEMs are being downsized. With ObsServe, IGG provides the expertise and resources to ensure that its customers do not come to grief in the obsolescence minefield.

Details available from: IGG Component Technology Ltd; Tel: +44 (0) 1329223565; E-mail: lloyd.francis@igg.co.uk