Why are some electronic components so difficult to locate?

Have you ever tried to source for specific electronic components to no avail? Many businesses have had that experience too. Some components are extremely difficult to find and locate in high-quality condition. Such parts are known as obsolete components and some can only be sourced through a trustworthy electronic components distributor.

Key Factors that Contribute to Hard to Find Parts

Technology is advancing rapidly, making it hard for specific components to keep up the pace. As a result, various industries are forced to identify, produce, and replace electronic components to maintain the speed of the rapidly changing environment. Consequently, obsolesce becomes a significant challenge in the electronic components supply chains. The contributing factors for this obsolescence include:

Shorter Product Life Cycles

The increased rate of innovations in the electronics industry causes many electronic components to have shorter life cycles. Each product has a process it goes through from the time it’s first introduced in the market to the time until it’s phased out.

The process has four stages, namely:

• Introduction- it’s also known as the research and development stage, whereby OEM’s and researchers work their way towards a beta version of the electronic component. When the part is introduced in the market, it’s at its high-stake although it’s hard to tell whether it will succeed or fail.
• Growth- at this point, the component recovers the out-of-pocket costs and the manufacturer focuses on its distribution while taking leverage of the part’s competitive advantage of being a new and practical innovation.
• Maturity- at this stage, the new component becomes normalized as consumers start accepting it, and competitors join the market.
• Decline- this being the final phase, the potential value of the component starts declining and eventually reaches zero. Manufacturers start working on innovations and consumers embrace them, in which case the component joins the category of “hard to find parts.”

Fast-Changing Technology

Due to the rapid growth in technology, many electronic components are becoming hard to find. The increase is attributed to the many industries that make use of electronic components such as:

• Consumer electronics
• Telecommunications
• Aerospace industry
• Military and defense
• Computers and more

As each of these sectors grows, they adopt new technologies and innovations, which in turn influence growth in the electronics industry. Consequently, OEMs strive to manufacture sophisticated electronic components that meet these demands. As a result, many electronic parts become phased out of the market rapidly.

Emerging industries also play a significant role in the emergence of hard to find parts. Many of these sectors, which include the internet of things (IoT), augmented reality, and autonomous technology, require chips that are smaller in size, durable, and possess low power consumption. As a result, manufacturers discontinue the production of older technologies while the assembly contractors stop supporting these systems. The consequence is the emergence of hard to find electronic components, which force companies to re-develop the old parts or find replacements.

Increase in Demand for Semiconductors

With so many industries looking for new semiconductors, original electronics manufacturers produce them in high quantities without thinking about the consequences of obsolescence. The manufacturers of the old components decide to discontinue the production, resulting in an end-of-life purchase.

Source Hard to Find Parts from a Reputable Electronic Components Distributor

Despite these factors contributing to an increase in hard to find parts, all hope is not lost when looking for obsolete part replacement. At Broadline Components, we understand how important it is to have an exact replacement for your outdated component. That’s why we work hard to provide you with obsolete electronic components and ensure your production process is uninterrupted.

We’re guided by a commitment to quality policy and have a cost down program when you’re purchasing in large volumes. We also have an excess inventory strategy that helps you manage surplus stock as well as generate revenue from such inventory. Feel free to request a quote and experience our Broadline difference!