Component obsolescence is not unusual in long-running electronics programs. The problem is that many products are expected to stay in service long after some of their components are no longer made. An EMS provider can help monitor parts and flag end-of-life notices, but the customer still has to stay involved because cost, timing, and product decisions become even more critical as a component’s lifespan winds down. Electronics obsolescence management works best when it is a shared responsibility.
What Is Electronics Obsolescence Management
Electronics obsolescence management, also called component obsolescence management (COM), is more than finding a new component when one is no longer manufactured. It is a proactive process of identifying, monitoring, and managing electronic components that are becoming unavailable or are no longer supported by their manufacturers.
The lifecycle of a component looks like this:
| Lifecycle | Manufacturer Status | What Is Happening |
| Introduction | Development / Qualification | A new component is being developed, qualified, and introduced to the market.
|
| Growth | Active | Production is increasing, and availability is expanding |
| Maturity | Active | The component is established, widely used, and generally well supported. |
| Decline | Not Recommended for New Designs (NRND) | Warning stage — The component is still available, but the manufacturer is discouraging its use in new designs. |
| Phase-out | EOL announced | The manufacturer has announced that the component will be discontinued and provided an expected transition timeline. |
| Final Purchase | Last Time Buy (LTB) | Customers have a final opportunity to purchase the component before production ends. |
| Obsolescence | No Longer Manufactured / Obsolete | Manufacturing has ended, and the component is no longer available as a current production part. |
The lifecycle is not static, and change is constantly occurring. A component’s lifecycle shows when availability may get harder, and sourcing risk may increase. The key point is not only where the part is today, but whether it’s moving toward higher risk. Electronics obsolescence management helps OEMs and EMS providers spot those changes early.
Obsolescence problems usually become expensive when the response starts too late. Electronics obsolescence management gives OEMs and EMS providers a process to identify risk early, review options, and decide whether to redesign, approve an alternate, or place a last-time buy.
A typical program includes:
| Monitor Components | Track the lifecycle status of every important electronic component, such as ICs, processors, connectors, sensors, capacitors, and power components. |
| Identify Risks Early | Determine which components are approaching EOL, have a single supplier, have long lead times, or are becoming difficult to source. |
| Find Replacements | Evaluate newer or alternative components that can perform the same function without requiring major redesigns. |
| Plan For EOL Announcements | When a manufacturer announces that a component will be discontinued, the company may make a Last Time Buy to purchase enough inventory to support future production and repairs. |
| Design For Longevity | Engineers can select components with longer expected lifecycles and, where possible, design products so that obsolete components can be replaced more easily. |
| Manage Redesigns | If a replacement isn’t drop-in compatible, engineering may need to modify the PCB, firmware, mechanical design, or other aspects of the product. |
Why Is It Important To Have A Process For Component Obsolescence Management?
The average microchip lifespan is 5-7 years, while much of the equipment or machinery relying on them is designed to operate for 10, 15, or 20+ years. As a result, a product may need to remain supported through multiple generations of electronic components before it reaches the end of its service life. Component obsolescence is therefore an ongoing lifecycle-management issue, rather than an occasional event.
The issue can be significant in scale. Z2Data reports that more than 620,000 components in its analysis reached end of life in 2025. This illustrates why manufacturers need a proactive approach to monitoring component lifecycles, particularly for products with long production or service lives.
A product change notification (PCN) is an official notice from a component manufacturer that informs customers of changes, including discontinuations. When a PCN is issued for an upcoming EOL, it can give manufacturers an opportunity to evaluate alternatives, make a last-time buy, or redesign the product before the component becomes unavailable. However, Z2Data reports that 52% of the components it identified as reaching EOL in 2025 were not accompanied by a PCN. While this does not necessarily mean there was no other notification of the change, it highlights the risk of relying solely on manufacturer notifications and demonstrates the value of continuously monitoring component lifecycle status.
Who Is Responsible For Electronics Obsolescence Management?
A common misconception is that obsolescence management belongs entirely to the OEM or can be handed off completely to the EMS provider. In reality, neither approach is effective. The most successful programs divide responsibilities between the product owner and manufacturing partner, with both parties contributing different information throughout the component lifecycle.
Responsibilities Of The Product Owner
The product owner makes the decisions that affect the product’s long-term viability, performance requirements, and support commitments. These responsibilities typically include:
- Lifecycle strategy
- Obsolescence risk assessment
- Alternate component approval
- Last-time-buy decisions
- Service-life commitments
- Inventory strategy
- Product redesigns and validation
Because the OEM owns the product design and performance requirements, it is ultimately responsible for deciding how obsolescence issues will be addressed.
Responsibilities Of The EMS Provider
An EMS provider contributes manufacturing and supply-chain visibility that may not be available to the product owner during day-to-day operations. Typical responsibilities include:
- Reviewing BOMs during RFQ, procurement, and production planning
- Identifying obsolete, long-lead, or hard-to-source components
- Alerting customers to sourcing concerns
- Watching component availability, lead times, and sourcing constraints during quoting and procurement
- Verifying materials through inventory control, kit audits, and pre-production checks
- Identifying possible alternate components for customer review and approval
- Communicating shortages and counterfeit-risk concerns when normal distribution cannot support the build
Many EMS providers encounter availability problems during quoting, procurement, or pre-production planning before the build reaches the production line. That gives the customer more time to review authorized inventory, approve an alternate, plan a last-time buy, or decide whether a design change is needed.
How SMTNW Supports Electronics Obsolescence Management
SMTNW helps customers identify component concerns before they interrupt production. During RFQ, procurement, and pre-production review, the team looks for hard-to-find parts, long-lead items, lifecycle concerns, approved manufacturer part numbers, and missing alternates. For turnkey and consigned jobs, materials are also reviewed through inventory control, kit audits, and pre-production checks so shortages, mislabeled parts, obsolete components, or unapproved substitutions can be addressed earlier.
When a specified component cannot be sourced through normal distribution, SMTNW works with the customer before moving forward with an alternate source or substitution. No EMS provider can eliminate obsolescence, but SMTNW’s role is to give customers earlier visibility, manage the materials within its control, document changes, and reduce the risk of last-minute substitutions or counterfeit exposure.
If component availability is creating uncertainty for an active PCB assembly, contact SMTNW for a BOM review. The team can help identify sourcing concerns, review approved alternates, and clarify what decisions need customer approval before the issue affects production.