Sustainable and Strategic Design to Combat Component Unavailability

Rob Picken [Sourceability North America LLC]

Abstract: 

Electronic component unavailability is a supply chain threat for most, if not all, companies that utilize electronic components in their products. There needs to be more strategic preparation for component unavailability, especially for high-reliability industries, such as aerospace, defense, and healthcare organizations, and small to mid-sized OEMs, CMs, and EMS providers. The lack of awareness about various factors that lead to component unavailability and absence of proactive actions that can be taken as early as the design phase contributes to millions spent on redesigning and recertifying.

To effectively combat component unavailability, all teams involved from design to procurement must have access to timely and accurate part data. We’ll explain how cheap components today can become scarce and expensive tomorrow. We will analyze the importance of tradeoffs during the design phase to ensure costs stay within company limits and production isn’t halted due to component unavailability.

The study will conclude by examining the different elements design and procurement teams should continuously monitor to uncover problem parts and how to address issues before it's too late. Engineers should be encouraged to work with other teams and use case management systems that alert buyers to known problems and collaborate on solutions.

Biography: 

Rob’s history with electronic component data services alongside franchised and non-franchised component distribution gives him a unique skill set to draw on that benefits customers and partners.

As a seasoned speaker at industry events across the USA, China, and Europe, his insights into component obsolescence, personnel, and knowledge obsolescence, data strategies on resilience for procurement and engineering teams, open market strategy formation, and counterfeit component avoidance, Rob’s been trusted to offer solutions and advice to some of the world’s most demanding supply chains. Rob has spoken globally at aerospace, automotive, obsolescence, and data-focused events, driven to share ideas. Collaborating with key thinkers to develop resilience and strategy is core to his work as SVP of Digital Transformation at Sourceability.