Obsolete components rarely announce themselves during quoting. Instead, they surface mid-build or during a repeat order, creating cascading issues:
1. Production Delays
Once a part is unavailable, sourcing alternatives takes time—sometimes weeks or months. That delay can stall an entire build.
2. Unplanned Redesign Costs
Pin-compatible replacements aren’t guaranteed. What looks like a simple swap can require:
- PCB layout changes
- Firmware updates
- Re-qualification testing
3. Increased Counterfeit Risk
When parts disappear from authorized channels, the gray market fills the gap. That increases exposure to counterfeit or sub-standard components.
4. Lifecycle Instability
Products built on unstable components are harder to scale, harder to support, and risk premature end-of-life.
Why This Is Becoming More Common
Several industry trends are accelerating obsolescence risk:
- Faster technology refresh cycles
- Consolidation among component manufacturers
- OEM demand shifting toward newer architectures
- Lower tolerance for low-volume legacy parts
In short, components are aging out faster than many designs.
Where Obsolescence Often Hides
In our experience, obsolete or high-risk parts most often appear in:
- Legacy designs that haven’t been refreshed
- BOMs reused across multiple generations
- Custom or niche components with single sources
- Parts last purchased during supply-chain shortages
These risks often remain hidden until a new build is scheduled—or worse, already underway.
How Poly Electronics Helps Mitigate Obsolescence Risk
At Poly Electronics, obsolescence management starts before production.
We actively support customers by:
- Reviewing BOMs for lifecycle risk during quoting
- Flagging EOL, NRND (Not Recommended for New Design), and sole-source components
- Proposing approved alternates early—before they become urgent
- Working with engineering teams to improve long-term component strategy
- Planning builds with repeatability and scale in mind
Our goal isn’t just to build your product—it’s to help ensure it can be built again, reliably.
What OEMs Can Do Now
To reduce obsolescence risk in upcoming builds, OEMs should consider:
- Conducting regular BOM lifecycle reviews
- Designing in second sources wherever possible
- Avoiding parts marked NRND, even if currently available
- Engaging EMS partners early in the design and sourcing process
Proactive planning almost always costs less than reactive fixes.
Final Thought
Obsolete components are rarely obvious—and that’s what makes them dangerous.
The most successful OEMs treat component lifecycle management as a core part of their manufacturing strategy, not an afterthought. With the right visibility and the right EMS partner, obsolcence risk can be identified early and managed effectively.
If you’re planning your next build—or scaling an existing product—Poly Electronics is ready to help you uncover risks before they become problems
