Reactive obsolescence management
Action is taken only once a discontinuation has already occurred. The aim is to respond quickly and keep the impact on the product as low as possible.
Obsolescence Management
Component discontinuations are not the exception and can affect any company. Obsolescence management (OM) at TQ protects your assemblies and systems against unexpected discontinuations, complex redesigns, and unreliable procurement sources. Modular in structure, available at any product stage, and backed by many years of our own E²MS experience as well as active membership in the Component Obsolescence Group Deutschland (COGD), our obsolescence management is an important building block for the long-term protection of your products.
Without obsolescence management, the following risks may arise:
- Unplanned production stops due to unavailable components
- Costly emergency procurement through unreliable broker sources
- Complex and costly redesigns under time pressure
- Delivery dates and customer contracts at risk
- Capital tied up in unplanned last-time-buy purchases
- Loss of approvals for safety-critical products
Three obsolescence management strategies – modular and combinable
TQ offers obsolescence management services and consulting at three levels. This allows us to cover all scenarios – from the initial response to a discontinuation through to complete strategic protection across the entire product lifecycle. You can get started at any time and in any product phase.
Our services for long-term availability
Our three obsolescence management strategies — reactive, proactive, and strategic — consist of various services that can be flexibly combined. Together with you, we tailor the requirements precisely to your assemblies and the respective product lifecycle.
Component monitoring & EOL service
We continuously monitor your bills of materials in a global database. In the event of product changes (PCNs) or discontinuations (EOLs), the defined contacts are automatically informed.
Substitute search & alternative analysis
We search worldwide for suitable alternatives to discontinued components. In doing so, we evaluate active replacement types, aftermarket sources, and possible components suitable for uprating.
Last Time Buy / Life Time Buy
We support you in planning and handling last-time-buy and lifetime-buy purchases. This helps secure availability and structure inventory levels economically.
Redesign & redevelopment
If obsolescence cannot be resolved in any other way, we support you with a redesign of the affected assembly. If required, complete redevelopment with a focus on long-term availability is also possible.
OM audit & consulting
We assess your existing obsolescence management and provide targeted advice on improvements. Our recommendations are tailored to your industry, your company, and your products.
Cannibalization & component reprocessing
Functional components can be removed from old systems, tested, and reprocessed for reuse. We carefully evaluate in advance whether this solution makes sense from a technical and quality perspective.
Your benefits
FAQs on Obsolescence Management
What is obsolescence management?
Obsolescence management is a structured management process that forecasts, monitors, and reduces the impact of component discontinuations on products and assemblies. With innovation cycles in the semiconductor industry becoming increasingly shorter – while product lifecycles in industry, medical technology, and aviation remain long – numerous discontinuation notices are issued every day. Without structured obsolescence management, companies risk unplanned production stops, emergency procurement through unreliable sources, and costly redesigns under time pressure.
When should I introduce obsolescence management for my product?
Ideally, obsolescence management should be introduced as early as the development phase. This allows components to be selected with their lifecycle in mind, critical components to be identified, and an OM plan to be created. However, it is possible to get started at any time – including for ongoing series products. TQ offers an initial bill of materials analysis that assesses the current risk status of all components and serves as the basis for the further OM strategy.
Can TQ also take over obsolescence management for existing products?
Yes. TQ offers obsolescence management in all phases of the product lifecycle – including for products that are already in series production or after-sales. The process starts with a bill of materials analysis, which serves as the basis for creating a tailored OM plan. An existing in-house OM process can also be assessed and optimized through a TQ audit.
Can obsolescence management services at TQ be combined flexibly?
Our obsolescence management services can be combined flexibly and according to your specific needs. You choose exactly the services that fit your product, your current situation, and your lifecycle. There is no fixed or mandatory combination.
Do I have to be an E²MS customer of TQ to use obsolescence management services?
No, our obsolescence management services are also available to external customers. You can use individual services or a complete support concept independently of an existing E²MS partnership with TQ.
Our USPs
- Your reliable E²MS service provider since 1994
- End-to-end system expertise
- Owner-managed family business
- More than 300 qualified developers
- Certified for regulated markets
- In-house accredited test laboratory
