Monday, May 13, 2013

Obsolete Electronic Components in The Consumer Market

As technology continues to advance at a rapid pace, obsolete electronic components are being formed on a daily basis. This is evident across all technological markets including the automotive, military, industrial and especially, the consumer market. More so than in any other area, the consumer market sees both planned obsolescence and that which happens due to rapid changes to the technologies.

Planned obsolescence is a marketing technique which helps ensure that the consumer continues to buy new products every couple of years by producing a set number of replacement parts. There are two stages to the planned obsolescence program. First, the manufacturer of parts ensures that their life expectancy is that of 2-5 years depending on the product. Secondarily, only a certain number of replacement parts are made until they are no longer manufactured and therefore considered obsolete electronic components. The combination of these two steps ensures that only a certain number of consumers can buy replacement parts once their parts stop functioning and the rest are to buy whole new products. This is typically done with frequently used electronics such as computers and mobile devices, including cell phones, broadband devices, tablets and more.

Most electronic components, however, become obsolete due to the rapid advancements in technology. The demand for faster, more intuitive and more efficient machines also creates a demand for electronic components of such kind. However, some manufacturers still need the parts which become obsolete for creating other products and are faced with the frustration of finding authentic components and purchasing them for an affordable price. Manufacturers who are experienced in the industry typically employ the services of a reliable electronic component supplier to find and purchase obsolete electronic components for them.

Besides being able to find obsolete parts, which can be an arduous task, suppliers also ensure that the components are authentic through various methods of testing. Depending on the components, testing can include checking OEM markings, physically measuring the device, as well as electronic testing, which typically provides the most accurate results. The use of counterfeit products can cause the finished product to malfunction and furthermore, create a catastrophic situation. Therefore, it is important to hire a supplier that has a proactive counterfeit prevention program.

Harry Krantz Company is an electronic component supplier with over 70 years in the business and a strong counterfeit prevention program.  Several factors contribute to their success including their quality assurance program, affordability and efficiency.

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