Weathering the obsolescence storm
Rochester Electronics’ product and expertise options supervisor, Ken Greenwood, explains the worth of a dependable provide chain concerning mission-critical out of date parts
Semiconductor lifecycles proceed to shrink and product discontinuation notices (PDNs) are on the rise. With latest provide constraints, authentic part producers (OCMs) and the semiconductor manufacturing chain have been reassessing product profitability. Oftentimes the choice has been made to prune uneconomical strains.
Whether or not it’s third get together or OCM owned fabs chopping older geometries, packaging homes selecting to finish assist of older package deal kinds (akin to PLCCs or small-SOICs) or the withdrawal of tester platform assist, PDNs are rising and turning into extra unpredictable.
Producers should be capable of observe and anticipate the lifecycles of their core semiconductors. Element databases, akin to IHS and Z2Data, can predict the remaining lifetime of a part and the anticipated end-of-life (EOL) dates. Untimely PDNs are, by nature, not simply anticipated by normal algorithms.
Element discontinuations pressure clients to decide to a conventional last-time-buy, whereby completed parts should be bought abruptly, to hopefully cowl any future wants. Together with the capital tied up within the inventory itself, there are further prices for specialised IC storage. Beneath good situations, these prices are unwelcome, however manageable. Nonetheless, if market wants enhance, in-service upkeep timescales are prolonged, or an unanticipated EOL is introduced, what needs to be executed?
It’s a widespread false impression that after a PDN is introduced, solely non-authorised sources can meet further product wants. Nonetheless, this route carries huge dangers and is patently unfaithful.
Any energetic part scarcity or ongoing want for out of date parts offers ‘incentives’ for unscrupulous sources to take advantage of the state of affairs and probably contribute poor high quality merchandise or counterfeits into the market.
The dangers of counterfeit and poor-quality parts from unauthorised sources characterize a major danger to each manufacturing yields and imply time between failure charges (MTBR). Inferior or substandard testing by unauthorised third events offers a false promise that authenticity may be examined. This testing is visible, x-ray or a poor partial copy of the unique producer’s take a look at processes. Full tri-temp testing can not often be provided and the danger of commercial-grade parts being re-marked as industrial, automotive or navy components is frightfully current.
There are additionally documented high quality issues associated to overseas chemical compounds. Cleansing chemical compounds used to get well, wash and re-mark used parts, slowly migrate into the merchandise, resulting in the shorting and corroding of bond wires and pads alike. Superficial testing just isn’t assured to seek out these faults. Unauthorised parts could not solely go these assessments, but in addition survive for a interval of service. Nonetheless, the parts’ inevitable failures will destroy MTBR figures, leading to decreased reliability and broken business reputations.
Authorised aftermarket distributors and producers, akin to Rochester Electronics, present a risk-free long-term supply for semiconductors. They’re an indispensable authorised companion supporting:
- Inventory to beat market shortages or lengthy lead-times
- A trusted supply for out of date parts
- Lengthy-term manufacturing from wafer of chosen product ranges
Rochester is 100 per cent authorised by over 70 main semiconductor producers. Its manufacturing unit direct, AS6496-compliant, providing negates the necessity for costly redesign, requalification and recertification.
Moreover, partnering with a licensed semiconductor producer can mitigate the dangers of part EOL. A licensed producer can produce units not provided by the OCM. When a part is discontinued, the remaining examined wafer and die, meeting processes and authentic take a look at IP, are transferred to the licensed producer by the OCM. Because of this beforehand discontinued parts are nonetheless out there newly manufactured, and 100 per cent in compliance with the unique specs. No further {qualifications} required or software program adjustments.
www.rocelec.com
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