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What to do after a connector end-of-life notice

A supplier sent an end-of-life notice for a connector in my product. What should I do?

— Common question from engineers

Read the notice for its dates first. Most give a last order date and a last shipment date, and the window to act is between now and then. Check which exact part numbers are affected, as a notice often covers a whole series or only some variants.

Then choose between two routes, or combine them. A last-time buy secures stock for the product's expected life, at the cost of cash tied up and the risk of storage and forecast errors. A replacement is a new part you qualify, which needs time for drawings, samples, testing and any customer approval.

Start qualification early, because it is the step most likely to take longer than expected. Update your bill of materials and your risk register, tell anyone who depends on the part, and keep the notice with your design record. Ask the manufacturer whether a recommended replacement exists, and treat it as a candidate to test, not as a guaranteed drop-in.

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