Obsolescence Management

With much ageing military equipment still in service, the ability to deliver solutions to component and sub-system obsolescence is of crucial importance in reducing future support costs and maintaining operational capability.

Through our role supporting in-service military equipment for the MoD, we have gained considerable experience in identifying obsolescence issues and providing workable solutions to them. We offer a complete obsolescence management and solution service focused on reducing support costs, improving capability and guarding against further downstream obsolescence.

We identify and assess obsolescence issues through:

• Bespoke studies
• Pro-active monitoring and reporting
• The use of specialist services

Through detailed evaluation and analysis of the impact of obsolescence we propose appropriate mitigation activity. Typically this will be one or more of the following:

• Identification and sourcing of alternative components
• Lifetime component or material purchase
• Modifications to assemblies and components
• Reverse engineering
• New technology insertion

Our approach to delivering cost effective solutions includes:

• Future proofing to mitigate against downstream obsolescence
• Critical components that may become obsolete are identified and if possible, are ‘designed-out’
• Minimising component count but maximising the use of flexible programmable devices with clearly defined upgrade paths, thus ensuring long-term supportability and continuity of supply. 

J+S's capability to provide innovative and cost effective obsolescence solutions is further strengthened though our membership of the Component Obsolescence Group (COG). We employ the full range of services and the networks of knowledge, available through the COG, as a valuable resource in providing appropriate obsolescence solutions. These range from determining alternative components through to Technology Insertion into complete systems and sub-systems.