What Steps Do I Take When My Part is Obsolete?
Any business or
organization knows that managing all of the components requires careful
and regular attention. So what happens when you find yourself with an
obsolete discontinued display?
If you’re tasked
with purchasing components, this is a stressful experience. You’re not
sure how to address the situation and concerned about both the short
term production needs, as well as having to find a new part or even a
new supplier.
So many pressing questions come to mind: What
if my supplier can’t provide a part that will work with the rest of my
system? Can I do a larger volume last time buy? Can I get a custom part
made, if so, won’t that be costly and time-consuming to execute? How do
I switch suppliers after working with our current one for so long? How
can I prevent the new part from becoming obsolete in the near future as
well?
If your current
supplier can no longer meet your needs, or you just feel stuck, you
probably feel like you don’t have many options.
Let’s address some of the options that you do have:
Will your supplier consider a special manufacture of the part for you?
If you have an
ongoing relationship with your supplier, you may be in a position to
request that they continue to manufacture the obsolete part (or one like
it) specifically for your system. This can be done, but can also be
difficult when dealing with large suppliers that may only do this for a
higher volume client. If you’re able to go this route, consider
purchasing the part at a higher volume last time buy to carry you
through the end of the life of your product, or to give you plenty of
runway to find an alternate solution.
Often there’s a sub
component that is driving this obsolescence that is out of your
suppliers control. In this case, you can work with your supplier to see
if they will redesign the parts around the closest alternate sub
component. Again, this can be difficult when dealing with larger
suppliers.
Can an alternate display that matches your system needs be found elsewhere?
Step two is to
consider is whether a suitable replacement part can be found elsewhere
to replace your obsolete component. Depending on the type of display,
there may be a common off the shelf replacement. But often, the closest
replacement comes with some minor differences that may need to be
addressed with a product re-design.
Can I get a custom designed display to replace the obsolete part?
A custom display is
designed to your exact specifications and system, or can be designed to
perfectly match the no longer available obsolete display. This ensures
that the custom display has either no impact or possibly a positive
impact on the overall quality and performance of your product. The
customization of the LCD display itself alleviates the need for any
costly product redesign on your part. The economic feasibility of a
custom display comes down to the matching of the core competencies of
your LCD supplier and your product demand. Typical tooling costs range
from $2,000-$6,000 and the lead time to develop a new display is about
4-6 weeks.
How do I switch suppliers after working with our current one for so long?
If you find yourself
stuck with an obsolete part and a supplier unable or unwilling to meet
your needs, it might be time to consider switching suppliers. Changing
suppliers on a critical key component is challenging and should be done
cautiously. When working with any new supplier, you should make sure
they can address the obsolescence and any additional concerns or issues
that you are currently having with your existing part. Use this as an
opportunity to make your supply chain even stronger than before. The
new supplier should be right sized for your industry and volumes, and
have examples of similar clientele. It is recommended to request
referrals and speak with their existing customers directly. Finally,
you will want to plan to have enough of the current LCD product on hand
to safely manage the transition without any risk of a shortage
(typically 5-8 weeks for development if custom, and an additional 8-12
weeks for production quantities).
How can I prevent the new part from becoming obsolete?
Stick to the most
standard formats. Your display partner can give you guidance on the
current situation in the market pace. The common formats are used in
much higher volumes minimizing the risks of falling below the TFT panel
MOQs. Secondly, when using a more common platform there is often a
near identical replacement panel available from another TFT panel
supplier. If the design is already set, then focus on your display
partner. Make sure that your product type and volumes are in line with
your supplier’s capabilities and typical volumes. And make sure your
supplier is willing to support this LCD configuration for the long term.
Conclusion
If you have an
obsolescence situation, it is stressful and time consuming, but often
there is a solution that will be perfectly matched to bring you a
tailored, cost-effective display solution that will improve the overall
quality of your product and ultimately improve your organization’s
bottom line.