Rochester Electronics Helps Manage Product Lifecycles

5th September 2013

Jacqueline Regnier

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Rochester Electronics supports original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and their customers, with product lifecycle management (PLM) services for critical semiconductor devices vital to equipment and machinery. Through its PLM initiative, Rochester helps OEMs evaluate and select critical semiconductor devices for their design, ultimately enhancing product development by increasing design efficiency, accelerating time-to-market and ensuring component supply capability. Rochester’s PLM program helps OEMs manage their critical semiconductor demand from product design through maintenance, repair and operations.

In the fast-paced electronics industry, OEMs must prepare for the obsolescence of key system components as part of their PLM planning. When a semiconductor device is declared end-of-life (EOL), available inventory of that component becomes finite. OEMs that repair and maintain their systems could face a scarcity of parts.

Rochester has been manufacturing and distributing EOL semiconductors since 1981. “Companies contact Rochester every day because they are unable to source a semiconductor device that was designed into their equipment while the component was still in active production,” said George Karalias, director of marketing communication for Rochester Electronics LLC. “Customers are facing the costly decision of redesigning an entire system to accommodate one single component. Our combined role as a manufacturer as well as a distributor enables us to provide direction at the initial design-in phase on through to providing an ongoing supply of devices for as long as they are needed.”

By engaging with Rochester in the early design phase, OEMs can take an active role in semiconductor PLM. Design engineers have a variety of choices when it comes to selecting a device for their product designs. Armed with the knowledge that a component can be available for a decade or beyond, engineers can choose the best device for their application.

"We have seen the difficulty our customers have when sourcing EOL parts," Karalias said. "For that reason, Rochester is providing PLM services in advance."

The best time to prepare for EOL is before a component becomes obsolete. As an authorized distributor, Rochester has partnered with more than 60 original semiconductor manufacturers to ensure EOL inventory comes directly from the factory and is stored, handled and shipped to supplier specifications. As a manufacturer, Rochester ensures an ongoing supply of devices.

Original component manufacturers (OCMs) are taking a long-term view of customer support and are including companies such as Rochester in their PLM solutions. Rochester complements suppliers’ efforts by purchasing EOL inventory; re-manufacturing EOL parts; and re-creating EOL devices – all with suppliers’ full authorization. Through Rochester, suppliers can guarantee their customers a never-ending supply of key semiconductor components for the ongoing maintenance, repair and operation of equipment.

"The 'L' in PLM stands for 'lifecycle,'" Karalias concludes. “As both a distributor and manufacturer, we help our OEM customers extend their product lifecycle for as long as they need."