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How to Find and Source Obsolete Electronics Parts? Learn here!

How to Find and Source Obsolete Electronics Parts? Learn here!

Technology keeps advancing, making it hard to produce enough parts to keep up with the pace. This makes some parts very hard to source. The shortage of these components can result in supply chain challenges and stop production.

Several electronics components, including microcontrollers and multilayer ceramic capacitors, have become very tough to source from supply chain interruption to market demand shifts. As a result, these parts are called obsolete components. This article will understand why these components are so hard to find and the best reliable way to source them.

Check out some vital factors that make some electronic parts hard to find.

Increase in Demand

Many companies are constantly on the lookout for new electronic parts and semiconductors. And because of this, original manufacturers produce them in high quantities without bothering about the repercussion of obsolescence. When obsolescence happens, the producers of the old parts choose to stop production, which will result in end-of-life purchases.

Shorter Product Life Cycles

Technological advancement contributed immensely to the short life cycle of electronic parts. Each product undergoes the following four processes:

  • Introduction: This phase of the product’s life is very crucial. It comprises market research, product research, the production of the component, and its introduction to the market. In this stage, there is no assurance that the product will make waves or be successful in the market. After production, the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) will have to wait to see if their invention meets and complements consumer demand predictions.
  • Growth: In this stage, the product has been launched successfully, and the OEM has recovered all their investment. They now focus more on how to position and distribute the components as a reliable solution within a market niche.
  • Maturity: Once the originality of the component wears off, it becomes an option to the consumer. And the reason is simple. The competitors of the OEM will start manufacturing their version of the component and launching them in the market. Their versions will also include significant improvements to the original version.
  • Decline: Once the demand for the component begins to reduce, the Original Equipment Manufacturer(OEM) will start to dedicate their time and resources to creating and manufacturing newer and better solutions. And because the demand for the component has significantly reduced, the OEM is no longer getting any profit from it. So they have no choice but to stop the production of the component. The existing components circulating will become very hard to find since no new components are coming off the production line. Nevertheless, many companies might still need the parts their legacy systems are in working order.

Fast-Changing Technology 

Many components are becoming difficult to find because of rapid technological advancements. Many industries like telecommunications, consumer electronics, military and defense, computers, aerospace, etc., also contribute because of their increasing demand for these parts.

As these industries progress and expand, they embrace new inventions and technologies. And this also influences growth in the electronic sector. This makes OEMs labor to produce high-end electronic parts to meet these demands. As a result, many electronic components have a short life cycle.

Arising industries also play a massive role in the scarcity of some electronic parts. Many of them, such as autonomous technology, augmented reality, the internet of things, etc., all require smaller chips that are durable and don’t consume much power, and are durable.

Many manufacturers will stop the production of older parts as a result. This results in some parts getting difficult to source, which compels manufacturers to create the parts again or find worthy replacements.

How to Source For Parts That Are Hard to Find?

There will continue to be huge technological breakthroughs, so it’s not slowing down anytime soon. Continuous inventions control the market, and electronics parts manufacturers must design and produce newer and better products to keep up with the market’s demand and stay competitive. However, all hope is not lost when sourcing hard-to-find electronic parts.

The best way to source these components is through a trusted and reliable electronic component distributor like VYRIAN. They are the procurement experts and can help you to source highly allocated, end-of-life, obsolete components you need.

Final Thoughts 

The demand for newer and better electronic parts, fast-changing technology, and shorter product life cycles will keep making some electronic parts hard to find. However, proper planning will help your company navigate through this effortlessly.

The best way is to build strong partnerships with suppliers that are experts in procuring these hard-to-find components. They will be the ones to help you source these components quickly without you having to bother about how to source the parts.

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