Combat Obsolescence with a Second Source of Supply

Dismantling Electronic Obsolescence for
Defense Programs

It is imperative to go beyond conventional obsolescence management and reverse engineering techniques to create
replacement circuit card assemblies (CCAs). Instead, target the supply chain at the root -- where the original product
design was initially introduced by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM).

Legacy equipment manufacturers (LEMs) have established relationships with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)
as an alternative source that reestablishes the manufacturing capability for obsolete commercial off-the-shelf (COTS)
and custom CCAs whose supply chains have been broken by electronics obsolescence.

Supported by legal agreements that protect OEMs, a second source of supply (SSOS) is a program that reestablishes
the manufacturing capability to support production of obsolete parts with fragile supply chains.

A key feature of the SSOS is the part sustainment plans that ensure a supply of qualified parts for as long as they are needed.

An SSOS for obsolete CCAs is a valid option if:

• the life cycle demand period of your program extends longer than the OEM is able to support it; and
• a life-of-type buy for an end-of-life (EOL) part will not be of sufficient supply to fulfill the lifetime requirements
  of the program.