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Most companies in high-tech industries face the same pain points: standards are complex, guidance is scattered, and every department speaks a different language when it comes to risk and mitigation. The result? Costly redesigns, supply disruptions, compliance gaps, and teams stuck in reactive firefighting.
This knowledge base initiative was brought to life to change exactly that. It distills product risk management into 12 clear steps — each mapped to international standards, explained with practical examples, and supported by real cases from industry. The aim is not theory, but application: a unified framework with one language that engineers, procurement, quality, finance, and leadership all can apply and understand.
Our long-term goal is to make this the reference point for obsolescence, product lifecycle, ESG & compliance, and supply chain risk knowledge — a resource that helps MedTech, aerospace, automotive, defense, and industrial firms protect revenue, improve compliance, and keep products reaching customers.
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1. Standards and regulations (What you must comply with)
2. Execution: Company processes and culture (How you actually work)
3. Data, practical tools and case studies (What helps you make decisions)
Product Risk Management (PRM) is about anticipating and controlling risks that threaten a product’s availability, compliance, or cost-effectiveness across its lifecycle. These risks can come from many sources: discontinued components, supplier instability, geopolitical and tariff tensions, new regulations, rare minerals or mismatched lifecycles between final products and its embedded parts.
The challenge is that most organizations address these risks reactively — often too late, leading to redesign projects, production stoppages, or expensive last-minute sourcing. The 12 Steps framework was developed to counter this by breaking PRM into structured, manageable actions. Each step links directly to international standards and is supported with tools and business cases, making risk management practical rather than theoretical.
12 Steps to Obsolescence Management
INDEX
01.
Identification and Assessment
A structured process to capture and evaluate all components, BOMs, and technologies ensures early recognition of obsolescence, supply chain, ESG and compliance risks and forms the foundation of a resilient management.
Author: Nathan Eldridge (Elekta Ltd)
02.
Monitoring & Early Warning Systems
Early detection of component, supplier, or regulatory risks allows proactive responses, reducing redesign costs and avoiding production stoppages. Effective monitoring and early warning systems act as the “radar” of product risk management, ensuring continuity and resilience.
Author: Oliver Hoffmann (COGD)
03.
Supplier Relationship Management
Strong supplier relationships turn risk into resilience—enabling early warnings, joint planning, and collaborative solutions that reduce disruption and cost.
Author: Martin Riedel (Martin Riedel Consulting) | Co-Author: Christoph Horlebein (Horlebein Consulting)
04.
Product Risk Analysis
Systematic risk analysis combines likelihood and impact to prioritize threats, helping companies shift from reactive fixes to proactive, data-driven resilience strategies.
Author: Björn Bartels (AMSYS)
05.
Legislative Compliance
Environmental and ethical regulations like RoHS, REACH, and TSCA drive obsolescence and product risk; staying ahead of compliance avoids costly redesigns and ensures market access.
Author: Kelsey Brown (Z2Data)
06.
Last Time Buys & Stockpiling
Last Time Buys provide short-term continuity but involve risks of cost such as tied up capital, overstocking, and LTB run-outs requiring redesigns. Additional risks include secure storage and future compliance. Success depends on careful planning and monitoring.
Author: John Wombwell (CNX)
07.
Predictive Maintenance
Predictive maintenance leverages lifecycle forecasting and component analytics to anticipate product risk before it disrupts operations. By combining multiple redesign needs into strategic, consolidated projects, organizations avoid costly reactive fixes (reactive redesign, broker purchase) and transform maintenance into a proactive driver of resilience and cost efficiency.
Author: Christoph Horlebein (Horlebein Consulting)
08.
Design for Resilience
Designing for resilience means selecting technologies and components with lifecycle and supply chain resilience as well as ESG and regulatory compliance, enabling safe long-term support and reducing costly redesigns.
Author: John Wombwell (CNX)
09.
Documentation and Knowledge Management
Robust documentation and knowledge management preserve organizational memory, enabling consistent tracking, reporting, and mitigation of product risks. Maintaining lifecycle and risk data, alternatives, and communication channels ensures continuity across personnel changes. TBD (TBD)
10.
Communication & Reporting
Clear communication and transparent reporting connect stakeholders, overcome silos, and enable fact-based risk decisions across the product lifecycle. Governance structures allow for standardized information exchange and decision-making.
Author: Christoph Horlebein (Horlebein Consulting) | Co-Author: Simran Gajra (Horlebein Consulting)
11.
Training & Awareness
Training and awareness embed product risk management across the organization, equipping staff to anticipate risks and build resilience.
Author: Darren Topley
12.
Regular Review & Updates
Systematic strategy, process & procedure reviews aligned with IEC 62402 Obsolescence management keep strategies current, integrating lessons learned and ensuring continuous improvement.
Author: Darren Topley
Authors and Sponsors
Get to know the creative authors and inspiring sponsors who make the work possible and help bring our vision to life.
Bjoern Bartels
AMSYS
Kelsey Brown
Z2Data
Christoph Horlebein
Horlebein Consulting
Martin Riedel
Martin Riedel Consulting
Darren Topley
CMCA(UK) Ltd
Oliver Hoffmann
Z2Data
John Wombwell
CNX Technology
Simran Gajra
Horlebein Consulting