With product lifecycles typically extending beyond active semiconductor component availability, Rochester encourages buyers to make lifecycle status a key step in the NPI process
Consider what may happen if one or more critical components within a product design were to become end-of-life (EOL) before its maturity. Establishing a dependable long-term supply chain specializing in semiconductor lifecycle solutions becomes vital.
As technology evolves and new semiconductor products increase in demand, the manufacturing volume increases. Naturally, the older products are phased out. This is the EOL phase of the semiconductor lifecycle.
When the original component manufacturer (OCM) chooses to discontinue a product, they typically offer an EOL purchase, better known as a last-time-buy. Often, customers do not have the ability to fund these purchases or buy enough, nor do they have the storage facilities available to support future requirements.
Most industries will face component EOL at some point and with it comes a wide range of challenges and risks. While machine downtime and lost revenue are high on that list, health and public safety rise to the top.
In high-reliability industries such as medical, military/defense, energy, transportation, industrial, and civil aviation, semiconductor lifecycle management becomes a critical factor. This practice allows businesses to prepare for EOL safely.
Companies that are not prepared become vulnerable to counterfeits, plus quality and reliability issues. Even for those companies who proactively prepare, long-term component storage remains a problem.
Buying from an authorized source that partners with the OCM eliminates these risks. Fully authorized distributors, like Rochester Electronics, comply with the SAE Aerospace Standard, AS6496. Simply stated, the OCM authorizes them to provide traceable and guaranteed products with no quality or reliability testing required because the parts are sourced from the OCM.
Those providers who are not, market themselves as AS6171/4 compliant. This source, though better than no compliance, follows standardized inspections and test procedures with minimum training and certification requirements to detect suspicious or counterfeit components. This indicates the parts are not sourced to the supplier from the OCM but have passed testing to minimize, not eliminate risk.
The only way to eliminate these risks is to purchase from a fully authorized source that is AS6496 compliant.
In the semiconductor world, counterfeit parts include:
- Non-functional or scrap product, which is re-marked as good and re-sold
- Functional yet sub-standard products purchased by the counterfeiter remarked and re-sold as full-grade products at an increased price
- Recycled and recovered components that are re-sold as new
In all these cases, the process of etching back the original external markings with aggressive chemicals or even mechanical grinders can result in internal damage and device contamination, causing in-service failures.
As well, recycled components are used semiconductors that have a previous working life and a return-for-recovery route through an uncontrolled storage environment. Exposure to excessive humidity, water and salt is routine. Authenticity alone does not guarantee reliability.
Though no one likes to be fooled by counterfeit products, in the world of components, procuring one could prove disastrous. It is uncomfortable to imagine a commercial airliner, missile or life-saving medical device receiving a critical component replacement that is fake and fails in the field, but these are the stakes, and they are high.
When considering critical component EOL, think Rochester Electronics, the experts in providing dependable and trusted long-term semiconductor lifecycle solutions.