Author: Michael Stratton

In highly regulated industries like aerospace, defense, and medical devices, compliance isn’t just a departmental concern—it’s a critical part of the procurement process. As global oversight tightens and accountability expands across the supply chain, manufacturers are facing a new reality: the conditions under which components are stored can be just as important as where they’re…

When an OEM completes a last-time buy for an end-of-life (EOL) semiconductor component, the assumption is simple: store it, ship it as needed, and avoid disruption. But what seems like a straightforward inventory move can quietly introduce long-term operational and financial risks—especially when storage happens in-house. As product lifecycles stretch into decades, the decision to…

In many sectors—especially aerospace, defense, medical, and industrial controls—products can remain in production or field support for 10, 15, even 25 years. But while the lifespan of the product is long, the window to secure critical components is often alarmingly short. Once a design is frozen and bill of materials (BOM) is locked, procurement teams…

When companies think about risk in semiconductor inventory, they usually focus on cost, obsolescence, or supply chain disruptions. But there’s a quieter threat—one that strikes without warning and exposes critical vulnerabilities in onsite storage strategies: power loss. As more manufacturers store end-of-life or mission-critical semiconductor components for extended periods, storage resilience is becoming a serious…

In 2025, long-term service contracts (LTSCs) are becoming more common across aerospace, defense, and healthcare. These multi-year agreements—often guaranteeing parts availability for 10 to 20 years—are critical to securing new business. But they also come with a hidden operational burden: ensuring inventory is available, stable, and protected for the full contract term. For OEMs and…

In today’s fast-paced electronics landscape, semiconductor obsolescence has become an increasingly pressing challenge. As innovation accelerates, component manufacturers regularly phase out older parts to make room for newer, more advanced technologies. But for OEMs and EMS providers operating on extended product lifecycles — especially in sectors like aerospace, industrial equipment, and medical devices — the…