Understanding Electronic Component Lifecycle Management for OEMs

Joshua Horton
Understanding Electronic Component Lifecycle Management for OEMs

The fast pace of tech changes today makes Electronic Component Lifecycle Management (ECLM) key for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). With 35% of electronic parts likely to become obsolete soon after a global semiconductor shortage, managing the lifecycle stages is a must. These stages are: introduction, growth, maturity, decline, and obsolescence. Each phase has its challenges and needs different strategies to handle.

Organizations should think about component obsolescence early, during the product design. This helps manage the product lifecycle better. Good Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) reduces the risks of not having enough components and keeps production going. Tools like Datalynq give OEMs information on component availability. This makes decision-making better. As we look more into ECLM, knowing all about electronic components is essential. It keeps a company efficient and competitive.

Introduction to Electronic Component Lifecycle

The Electronic Component Lifecycle is key for companies that make or use electronic parts. It shows the journey of a component from start to end. Knowing this helps companies deal with supply chain issues. In 2023, nearly half a million electronic parts were phased out. This makes understanding the lifecycle very important.

Defining Electronic Component Lifecycle

The lifecycle has four main parts: introduction, growth, maturity, and decline. At first, sales are slow because the part is new. Then, sales and profits go up as more people buy the product. When a product is mature, though, sales drop, and prices might go down to stay competitive. Eventually, sales fall, and the part is no longer made.

The Stages of Component Lifecycle

  • Introduction: The product is new and selling slowly.
  • Growth: Sales and profits go up as more people buy it.
  • Maturity: Sales are steady then start to decrease, prices may change.
  • Decline: Sales drop significantly and the product may be stopped.

Knowing these stages helps engineers pick parts that won’t be outdated soon. With new tech coming out all the time, managing old parts is crucial. It helps companies stay up-to-date and competitive.

Understanding Electronic Component Lifecycle Management for OEMs

Today, for those making equipment, understanding component lifecycle management is key. The electronic parts change quickly. This change brings a risk of them becoming outdated. This is especially true in fields like medicine, space, and defense. These areas need very reliable parts. A good lifecycle management plan helps OEMs keep track by watching over components from start to end.

The Importance of Lifecycle Management

Lifecycle management is very important. Up to 40% of electronic parts might stop being made without warning. Changes in demand and new rules can make this worse. This includes rules like the EU’s REACH and RoHS. OEMs need to regularly check their parts lists. This helps them understand the impact if a part is no longer made.

Finding a good electronics making partner is key to avoiding part issues. They can help choose the right parts or find replacements for ones that aren’t made anymore. Software that checks parts lists for ones that are going out of production is helpful. This allows OEMs to act fast. They can order parts before they are gone or find new ones. Staying flexible and ready for changes keeps OEMs strong in the market.

Joshua Horton