Obsolescence of electronic components and devices is a primary concern for contract manufacturers providing mission critical assemblies for the Department of Defense. The time to market and product life associated with commercial products, are usually much shorter, and designs can be modified at a much quicker pace, to reflect COTS availability in materials and components. In contrast, some DOD projects may take years from the time of design inception to production readiness. Components and devices originally outlined in a given Bill of Materials (BOM) may have already been phased out of production by the component manufacturer, causing anything from a slight revision to the BOM, if functionality is maintained, all the way to re-qualification of assemblies on more critical replacement parts.

A few years ago, the EMPF embarked on a study to determine the extent component vendors had prepared for the transition to differentiate RoHS qualified components from the conventional components described in their catalogues. The study was not originally initiated for the purpose of auditing suppliers, but as quality control check on components required for a specific project. The results indicated significant discrepancies in the manner in which parts were identified, and often suggested a lack of discriminators to differentiate identical components of various surface finishes. The issue of supply chain sustainment can be a daunting one, especially in the light of ever diminishing inventories of non-COTS components that have been replaced in both form and function. Rapidly changing technology, coupled with restrictive environmental legislation, has required OEMs and contract manufacturers to refocus on a comprehensive strategy to acclimate to the ever-changing landscape of electronic manufacturing technology. Part of the sustainment strategy should include continual maintenance on sealing substantial gaps in the value chain. Updated information on marketing tools, logistics, forecasting, and distribution all play a role in the supply chain sustainment process. Realization that competitors have adapted to changing market conditions, and in many cases, have directly impacted the direction and focus of new electronic assemblies, has prompted many of our valued partners and customers to accelerate their efforts on closing the informational gap.

The EMPF learning center has operated on the principle that the best approach against a superseded supply chain is to offer comprehensive training to our customers on the significance of preparation. Sustainment entails continual support throughout the lifetime of the product cycle, from procurement to product clearance. There should also be provisions for collaboration among the many vendors and suppliers that are chosen as part of the supply stream. It is to the advantage of the end customer for vendors to cooperate on the various parts that will ultimately contribute to the end product. Some of the key aspects of supply chain sustainment:

• Vendor Identification – Initiate a catalog system that organizes and documents information on various component vendors. Information critical to the selection process, ranging from part number availability to delivery times, will help eliminate and focus on vendors that meet the initial screening process. Cataloguing is commonly used to assist the screening process by the using a standardized database system. This also permits companies to collaborate in the management of the supply chain.
  
  
• Qualifying Vendors – Develop a set of metrics and standards to assess vendors. This can include various aspects of their business behavior that can incorporate financial stability, customer base, growth potential, and contingency plans. Metrics can aide in determining progress toward a set of fixed objectives and help identify areas of weakness or strength. This will assist in providing sufficient information for the allocation of additional resources toward new contingency plans.
  
  
• Strategic Outsourcing – Make provisions in planning that allow for the interchanging of parts due to availability. Benefits include leverage and cost reduction, risk reduction, improved performance, greater cycle times, and price stability.
  
  
• Part Standardization – Minimize the proliferation of specialized devices by using readily available COTS parts.
  
  
• Part Management – While considering the utilization of the optimum part, other factors such as cost, availability, assembly technology, and potential legacy issues should be considered.

Effective supply chain management goes beyond the accepted supply chain protocols such as procurement. All operational functionalities, such as transport, maintenance, third party suppliers, and other source vendors, may ultimately be part of the supply chain. A periodic audit of the supply chain process will assist in determining the functionality across departments and help replenish the areas that require upgrading to reflect current best practices. This is as important as any other consideration in the sustainment of a viable and vital supply chain. The EMPF has helped provide our customer base with valued information on supply chain preparation through the utilization of both customized courses and on-site consultation. For further information on supply chain sustainment or any other courses that the EMPF provides, please contact the Registrar at 610-362-1295 or email
registrar@empf.org.