Understanding the True Definition of Obsolescence Management

By Logan Wamsley

It is widely understood that “obsolescence” as it relates to the manufacturing industry is defined as the transition of electronic components toward end-of-life. There are many reasons this could occur – some as the result of a component’s natural life cycle, others as the result of unforeseeable circumstances – but regardless of precisely why it…

The 4 Most Common Mistakes Associated with Last Time Buys

By Logan Wamsley

Last time buys, even in the best of situations, rarely go smoothly. There are dozens of variables in play – and if one miscalculation is made, it could have profound consequences for your product, business, relationship with consumers, and profit margins. If you are prepared to make a last time buy, below is a brief…

Medical Devices vs. Consumer Electronics: Why Are Their Life Cycles so Different?

By Logan Wamsley

Trends in today’s manufacturing industry have long indicated that product life cycles are lengthening against the electronic components required to assemble them, but nowhere is this conflict more pronounced than in the healthcare industry. The average life cycle for consumer electronics, such as smartphones or tablets, is conservatively about 18 months. While supporting a consumer…

The Financial Toll of Last Time Buys on OEMs

By Logan Wamsley

Last time buys will always be the central concern of every successful obsolescence management strategy. BOM monitoring gives OEMs the tools needed to stay ahead of obsolescence, proper long-term storage infrastructure gives them the means to maintain end-of-life inventory post-obsolescence, and the implementation of die and wafer banking into their product designs allows them to…