Obsolescence Management

Last Time Buy Isn’t a Long-Term Solution: Managing Obsolescence Risk in Legacy Systems

Why last time buys fail—and how a structured sustainment strategy protects long-lifecycle programs from recurring supply chain disruption When a critical component goes obsolete, the response is immediate: forecast demand, secure funding, and execute a last time buy before supply disappears.  It feels like control—the risk is identified, the inventory is secured, and the issue is closed.  Until…

Legacy Systems Aren’t a One-Time Fix: Why Proactive Obsolescence Management Matters

The Cost of Treating Sustainment Like a Fire Drill  When a part goes obsolete, the response isn’t routine—it’s destabilizing. Engineers are pulled off deliverables. Procurement shifts into emergency sourcing. Operations waits without clear direction while schedules slip and earned value begins to drift. Program managers must explain impacts before full visibility exists.  The disruption moves fast. Production slows. Repair turnaround…

Legacy Sustainment In-House: Hidden Risk for Embedded OEMs

What Happens When Embedded OEMs Keep Legacy Sustainment In-House? A quiet erosion that often ends in a sudden catastrophe.  The risk isn’t always a single, dramatic event; it’s a slow, silent drift. Systems degrade. Critical knowledge walks out the door. Customers grow frustrated. And leadership is often unaware of just how fragile their internal support has become until it’s too late. …

Understanding the True Cost of Tech Obsolescence

Do we, as an industry, truly understand the full impact and cost of tech obsolescence? Over the past years, the team at GDCA has been doing our best to educate and illuminate the electronics industry on the impact that obsolescence has on every level of our supply chains. Traditionally, product obsolescence was simply managed in-house,…

The Inchworm Dilemma: Why Your Strategy Isn’t Moving Forward

Tania Scroggie is back with another episode of ‘Tania’s Teachables’ over on YouTube, this time exploring the hard truth of dealing with legacy electronics in today’s modern world of fast-paced technological advancement. ‘The Inchworm Dilemma’ explores a common challenge facing the support of legacy products–a lack of infrastructure.  Grand Plans that Stretch Your Company beyond…

Tania’s Teachables: OEMs, Long-Term Support & GDCA FAQs

Tania Scroggie is back with another episode of “Tania’s Teachables” over on the GDCA YouTube channel, this week tackling the frequently asked questions that we get here at GDCA about how we support both OEMs and customers!  Throughout her time at GDCA, both working directly with our customers and partners, and representing the company, Tania…

Ask an Expert

GDCA presents a brand new YouTube series Recently, members of the GDCA team sat down to answer many common questions that they’ve been asked during their years working in GDCA and obsolescence management. We aim to provide our customers and partners with more information about how we can assist them and offer even more transparency…

What is Long-Term Availability for Embedded Boards?

If you’ve been around obsolescence management before, then you most likely understand what this phrase means and its importance in legacy equipment manufacturing. However, if you’re new to the scene or if you’re in need of a refresher, then this article is for you.  Long-term availability of embedded boards and systems is what GDCA is…

The Human Factor: When losing older workers leads to obsolescence

Ask anyone who drives an older car.    As the system ages, it develops its own quirks. You have to jiggle the shifter in park to get the keys out of the ignition. You have to pump the gas twice before it starts up on a cold day. The AC has to be turned off…