Blog

Knowledge from more than 100 discontinuation cases.

Analyses, case studies and practical recommendations on obsolescence management – for everyone who has to keep products deliverable for 10 to 30 years.

Glossary from A to Z

Two white DDR4 memory modules on a PC motherboard

Latest issue · Das Obsolescence Briefing

5 November 20264 min read

When a manufacturer simply exits: what the end of Crucial reveals about component availability

Micron is ending the Crucial brand after 29 years, and memory prices are rising by more than 300 % in some cases. Why market shifts like this are an obsolescence issue – even without a PCN.

Large warehouse with long rows of shelves full of boxes

28 October 20269 min read

Calculating a last-time buy: how to determine the right quantity

Order too little and production stops. Order too much and capital sits in the warehouse for years. How to calculate a last-time buy step by step – with formula, example and checklist.

Industrial microscope with several lenses above an inspection table

28 October 202610 min read

Detecting and avoiding counterfeit electronic components

Anyone buying discontinued components on the open market has to expect counterfeits. Which types exist, how markings are manipulated, which test finds what and what the current AS6081A requires.

Metal components lying on technical drawings

28 October 20266 min read

IEC 62402 explained: the standard for obsolescence management

What IEC 62402 covers, who it applies to, which building blocks it describes and how to implement the standard pragmatically – even without a large standards project.

Calculator on a stack of papers

28 October 20266 min read

What does obsolescence cost? Identifying, comparing and reducing costs

Emergency purchase, redesign, production stop: which costs a discontinuation triggers, why the hidden ones are often the largest and how to make the benefit of obsolescence management tangible.

Rows of assembled printed circuit boards with cables in a production facility

23 October 20267 min read

Obsolescence management with EMS providers: benefits, roles and selection

Outsourcing manufacturing does not automatically outsource the discontinuation risk. What EMS providers deliver, who is responsible for what and what belongs in the contract.

Talk on a stage in front of a full hall at a trade event

23 October 20265 min read

Networks, associations and events in obsolescence management

From COGD to industry conferences: where experts exchange views on obsolescence, what each organisation stands for and how to find the right one for you.

Two people discussing technical documents and plans at a table with a laptop

23 October 202612 min read

Obsolescence management plan (OMP) according to IEC 62402: policy, content and risk assessment

What IEC 62402 requires of an OMP: from the management policy, roles and content to a risk traffic light based on probability and impact – with checklist.

Screen showing charts and evaluations of analysis software

23 October 20268 min read

Obsolescence management software: an overview of tools for monitoring and PCN management

From component search engines to life cycle databases: which tool categories exist, what they are good for and how to choose the right software.

Two power transistors on a green printed circuit board

23 October 20268 min read

Sourcing discontinued components: distributor, broker or manufacturer?

Which sources exist for discontinued components, how high the counterfeit risk is for each and how to recognise a reputable broker.

Engineer working on an electronic assembly with a magnifier and soldering iron

23 October 20268 min read

What is obsolescence management? Definition, causes and benefits

Why components disappear while your product has to remain available for decades – and how obsolescence management turns this into a predictable topic.

Two engineers discussing a strategy at a whiteboard

23 October 20267 min read

Obsolescence management strategies: reactive, proactive, strategic

From fire-fighting to planning: the three maturity levels, the most important fields of action and how to find the right strategy for your company.

Electronic test set-up with breadboard, cables and multimeter

Discontinuations

23 October 20267 min read

Received a discontinuation notice – what now? Handling PCNs and PDNs in 8 steps

A discontinuation notice has arrived. These eight steps take you in a structured way from the notice to an implemented solution – with checklist and typical mistakes.

Close-up of a printed circuit board with processor, capacitors and other electronic components

Discontinuations

8 October 20264 min read

When your component disappears before the manufacturer tells you

More than half of all discontinuations now come without warning. Why PCN monitoring alone is no longer enough – and what makes sense now.

Industrial robots assembling a car body in an automotive plant

10 September 20264 min read

The one-cent chip that brings car plants to a standstill: what the Nexperia crisis means for obsolescence management

Cheap standard components are rarely considered critical – until geopolitics cuts the supply chain. Three steps to spot such risks early.