Stella Josifovska, the Editor of Electronics World, talks to Stephen Morris, the General Manager – EMEA at Rochester Electronics, about the growing threat of electronic component obsolescence.

Rochester is described as supplying “100% authorised, traceable, certified, and guaranteed devices.” Can you explain what each of these terms means?

Absolutely. Each of these terms is a real commitment, and they make Rochester very different from other distributors or brokers. Many distributors sell components without authorisation from the original component manufacturer, or OCM. Brokers, on the other hand, buy and sell parts from wherever they can, often without any formal relationship with the OCM. That means there is limited visibility into where the parts come from or whether they meet the original standards.

When we say “100% authorised”, it means every device we supply comes directly from the OCM under a formal agreement. Traceability comes with that because we know exactly where each part comes from and can provide full, documented traceability, showing the origin, source, and chain of custody for every device.

Certification is part of the same framework. All our devices are verified as original, compliant, and made to the OCM’s specifications and quality standards.

And finally, guaranteed reflects the fact that Rochester actually owns the product. We are not just passing parts through; we take title to the inventory. That means we can provide a warranty and stand fully behind the authenticity and performance of every device we supply.

Once you receive the components’ original files from the OCM, do you ever tweak or change a process, package or material of the part?

Most of the time, no. Once we receive the original design files from the OCM, the processes, materials, and packaging stay exactly the same. Customers want the parts they have already qualified, even if they are mature or obsolete, so we supply them as-is for true product continuation.

We also have authorised manufacturing capabilities. With permission from the OCM, we can manufacture the part using the original die and test programs. It meets the same specifications and carries the same part number. The only difference is the Rochester branding.

In rare cases, if no die exists, we can recreate it and even redesign the device if the customer requests it. For example, a customer needed an ASIC from an original manufacturer that had exited the market. They asked us to reproduce the ASIC and make a few design changes. We were able to do this, but the result became a custom product rather than an exact replacement of the original.

For most customers, keeping the part unchanged is critical. Even minor changes can affect timing or performance, so customisation is not our standard service. Our focus is on delivering exactly what customers know and trust, ensuring continuity, reliability, and confidence.

Engineers often prefer to continue using the original components they have already qualified, flaws and all, because they understand how to manage their behaviour and performance. This familiarity makes design work faster and more efficient. Given this, how does Rochester help engineers manage the challenges of component obsolescence and long-term product lifecycles?

Obsolescence is something every engineer designing circuits has to deal with. Semiconductors have a finite life, which today averages around 10 years, but many critical systems are expected to stay in service for 25 to 30 years. That gap can create real challenges.

Designing a new product usually takes three to four years, including all the qualification and certification work. By the time the product hits the market, a big chunk of the semiconductor’s lifecycle is already gone, which makes long-term availability even harder to manage.

Rochester helps tackle this challenge by providing continuity of supply. With over 15 billion devices in stock, one of the largest in-house inventories in the world, we can support both immediate needs and long-term planning. Engineers can order products today and schedule future deliveries to match their production forecasts. We manage the logistics so customers can focus on their end products with confidence year after year.

But it is not just about inventory. Rochester also has manufacturing capabilities. If a device is no longer available anywhere on the market, we can manufacture it ourselves, keeping it available without forcing a redesign.

Partnership is also key. We work closely with customers to spot potential risks long before they become problems. Critical board-level components like DSPs, FPGAs, MCUs, memory devices, and power components can become obsolete, and even package types may be discontinued, creating unexpected headaches for designers.

By engaging early, we get a clear picture of how customers use specific components. We then share these insights with OCMs to plan authorised supply and manufacturing strategies. The result is a collaborative approach that helps customers, Rochester, and OCMs work together to manage obsolescence and keep long-term programmes running smoothly.

What advice would you give to design and development engineers, and to OEMs, regarding obsolescence?

Obsolescence is inevitable, so early planning is essential. Today, when components become obsolete, the end customer gets very little notice period which can be as little as four to six months, compared with 18 months in the past. This compressed timeline makes proactive management critical. So planning is essential! Engineers and OEMs should assess lifecycle risks early, engage trusted supply partners, and plan for continuity through long-term inventory or authorised manufacturing to avoid costly redesigns and ensure product longevity.

When customers use your parts in their designs, do they need to re-certify their products or re-file their paperwork?

In most cases, no. If a customer is simply replacing a part from stock, they are effectively using the original component, so it’s considered a product continuation. There is no difference for them, and no re-certification is required.

It’s a little different when we manufacture the part. As I mentioned earlier, Rochester-manufactured parts are made exactly to the original manufacturer’s specifications. The only difference is that they carry the Rochester badge. On the board, these parts behave exactly the same as the originals.

In cases where paperwork is required, it’s usually a simple self-certification. The customer confirms that they have tested and verified the parts and that they perform identically. It’s more of a formality than a full re-test or re-certification.

Do you ever make a product obsolete at Rochester? You mentioned stock of some 15 billion parts, which is enormous. Do you remove some of them and when?

It is very rare for us to make parts obsolete, mainly because of the size of our stock and our ability to manufacture products ourselves. In practical terms, we can supply components indefinitely.

That said, there are occasional cases where a part does become obsolete, but this only happens in a very small percentage of cases. When it does, we make sure to give customers plenty of notice. We contact them directly and give them the chance to place last orders.

Unlike OCMs, which tend to announce obsolescence in large batches, we handle it on a personal level. Over the years, we’ve built strong relationships with our customers, and we make sure they have the time and information they need to plan ahead.

What trends and challenges do you see in 2026?

Obsolescence is not going away, and it is likely to become even more challenging as technology advances, especially with AI driving products forward at a rapid pace. Semiconductor manufacturers need to make room for new devices, which often means older ones are phased out. For many customers, this creates real challenges, making proactive planning essential.

We work closely with our customers to stay ahead of obsolescence. Depending on the programme, we hold quarterly, six-monthly, or annual reviews to understand their needs and provide updates on what we are seeing in the marketplace.

AI will have a major impact in 2026, and it will also put pressure on other, non-AI platforms. From our side, we continue to invest heavily in our manufacturing capability, expanding the number of lines and products we can support. Over the coming years, we plan to grow our capacity four-fold. This scale and ability to manufacture products in-house is what makes Rochester unique in the industry.

For more information visit – www.rocelec.com