It is very important that dutyholders with responsibility for lifecycle management do some thorough checks when sourcing obsolete components.
According to recent research by market analyst IHS,
obsolete parts have accounted for more than half of all counterfeit-part reports during the last ten years.
Obsolescence management is a key part of any purchasing manager's responsibility. outlining the importance of obsolescence management for the electronic supply chain.
Obsolescence is inevitable for a number of reasons, most notably that the product lifecycles of components are much shorter than the products in which they are used.
This is especially true for long-lifecycle or complex products such as automotive, industrial, medical, aviation, or telecommunications equipment that use once-current, but now-outdated, components.
Although it afflicts many markets, the issue of obsolete parts in long-lifecycle gear is most dramatically illustrated in the defence/aerospace industry.
The IHS research found 57 per cent of counterfeit part reports from 2001 to 2012 involved out of date or end-of-life components.
"Some have said that if you can avoid all obsolete parts, you can eliminate all the risk of counterfeits, however, this is untrue for many reasons," said Rory King, director, supply chain product marketing at IHS.
"Obsolete parts represent only a portion of the counterfeit scourge, with active components accounting for a significant share of all counterfeits reported. Moreover, it's unrealistic or technically infeasible to economically eliminate the use of all obsolete parts," he added.
As a result, it is important that electronics purchasers ensure they do their research and apply the right methods and tools to source genuine obsolete components.
In a recent article for Electronicsnews.com, Alain Ludva, general manager of Mondo Australia, said it was crucial that production buyers know their options when sourcing electronic components.
"You can minimise your risk and exposure to counterfeit components, by following a few basic steps, which are often overlooked when acting under budget and deadline constraints," he said.
These include ensuring purchasing officers do their homework prior to purchasing a component.
It's also important to note that international purchases follow a completely different set of rules from domestic purchases.
"For instance, most international suppliers require pre-payment of parts, leaving you dangerously exposed if buying from an unknown source," Mr Ludva said.
