Safe Sourcing Obsolete Parts
Often older parts that are no longer made by the OCM (original component manufacturer) can still be required by manufacturers. Traditionally, the open or grey market has been the place to look for these parts, but the real and growing threat of counterfeit parts has made this an increasingly risky option.
Princeps can help customers mitigate these risks via:
- Our world class AS6081 Counterfeit Mitigation Process
- Our Open Market Supplier Risk Assessment
- Our Princeps ASSURE service level offering, through which customers can access this protection which includes 80+ checks run for free by our in-house lab team.
Sourcing hard-to-find Parts
Whilst still manufactured by the OCM, these may be in particularly high demand, with extended lead times, on allocation or just so niche that they are not readily available. This can increase cost and manufacturing lead times.
Princeps can help navigate these issues via:
- Our access to a global network of manufacturer-authorised sources, casting the widest possible net in which to find these parts.
- Our relentless perseverance in tracking down elusive parts, always making one more call and trying one more source than our competitors.
- Our experience and knowledge of dealing with global sources, safely organising payments, shipping, customs and all the other issues facing importers.
Let us demonstrate how much better we are than our competitors
Quality
Industry-leading quality with the assurance of AS9120 & AS6081 certification.
Service
Unparalleled customer service, characterised by our can-do attitude, industry collaborator network and attention to detail.
Communication
Complete transparency and two-way communication drives everything we do.
We add value by taking ownership of counterfeit mitigation, on-time delivery, obsolescence management and resolving supply chain challenges. Utilising our global network of thousands of manufacturer-authorised sources, we provide a single-source, secure and straightforward solution for electronic component sourcing.
We’re subject matter experts with over 150 years of staff industry experience, we provide you with solutions to projects at more than just component level. This includes lifetime support on niche franchise lines and being obsolescence management specialists, component brokers simply don’t offer this.
Sourcing Built Parts
The combination of Princeps’ project management skills and our approved AS9100 sub-contractors provides the complete service our customers need. We deal with all aspects, including:
- Requirements flow down
- First article inspection (FAI)
- Drop shipments
- Any other project specific requirements
What is hard to find Part Sourcing?
Hard to find part sourcing involves locating and obtaining components that are challenging to acquire due to various factors, including limited availability, discontinued production or regulatory constraints. This process is especially relevant in industries like aerospace, defence, electronics and automotive, where specific parts are crucial for the functionality and safety of products and service life may run into decades.
Several reasons contribute to the difficulty in sourcing these parts. Obsolescence is a significant factor, as manufacturers may phase out certain components or replace them with newer alternatives. Plus, there may be a limited number of suppliers who stock these essential components, making it harder to secure competitive pricing and consistent availability. Long lead times are another challenge, as sourcing rare parts can lead to delays in production schedules and project timelines. Regulatory restrictions may apply to certain components, complicating the sourcing process further.
To overcome this, businesses often engage with specialised sourcing partners or distributors such as Princeps who have extensive networks and expertise in finding hard-to-find components. These partners leverage their industry contacts and market knowledge to connect companies with the necessary parts, often providing alternatives or substitutes when the original components are unavailable. Effective hard-to-find part sourcing is vital for maintaining operational continuity and ensuring timely project completion.