Sustaining, Managing, Overcoming Obstacles in the Memory Supply Chain

Manufacturers put out notifications for production end-of-life (EOL) and obsolescence to make room for the latest and greatest, while the semiconductor chip itself can last for many more years. Historically, semiconductor manufacturers announce EOL to save costs when the component’s target market is experiencing a downturn. For long-life applications, however, chip obsolescence is a guarantee. Durable products are usually built for over 30 years of service, while the integrated circuits they are equipped with will often be taken out of production in the course of five years.