This year's event, which is being held exclusively virtually for the first time due to the coronavirus pandemic, will feature nine presentations by international experts under the motto 'Obsolescence management - the key to sustainability'.
More and more manufacturers and users of particularly durable assets are faced with the challenge that components, systems or materials urgently needed for the production or maintenance of their systems or devices are often discontinued after a short time or are no longer available for other reasons. As a result, up to 50% of total life cycle times are already directly or indirectly attributable to obsolescence of various kinds. In the worst case, these supply problems can even lead to the premature discontinuation of production or the decommissioning of systems and devices.

The aim of the associations, institutions, companies and individuals represented in the IIOM is therefore to jointly develop strategies and measures with which incalculable obsolescence-related risks can be eliminated or at least minimized. This year's conference theme emphasizes the positive role played by professional obsolescence management based on the international standard IEC 62402:2019.

The speakers invited to the IIOM Online Conference 2021 from academia (University of Madrid, Institut Francais de l'Obsolescence), industry (Alstom, BP, Rolls-Royce) and solution providers (D+D+M GmbH, Rochester Electronics, Winslow Adaptics ) will highlight strategic, technical and commercial aspects from a wide range of perspectives in their practice-oriented presentations. The topics range from the fundamental importance of obsolescence management in the age of the circular economy to the implementation of obsolescence management plans throughout the supply chain and life cycle simulations based on a Life Cycle Index.

"The coronavirus pandemic and the associated current shortage of components are once again a shocking reminder of how vulnerable supply chains that are supposedly safe are in practice to a wide variety of external influences. The fact is that the number of individual electronic components, system components and software programs that have been discontinued after a short time or are no longer available for other reasons has increased massively over the last ten years. It is to be feared that the coronavirus pandemic will accelerate this negative trend even further. The declared aim of the IIOM Obsolescence Conference 2021 is therefore to further intensify the dialog between those responsible and those affected and to jointly search for practicable and sustainable solutions for all market participants," says Dr. Wolfgang Heinbach, IIOM International President and Chairman of the Board of COGD (Component Obsolescence Group Germany).