Our Authors & Sponsors
Get to know the creative authors and inspiring sponsors who make our work possible and help bring our vision to life with passion and purpose.
Bjoern Bartels
AMSYS
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Christoph Horlebein
Horlebein Consulting
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Darren Topley
CMCA(UK) Ltd
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John Wombwell
CNX Technology
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Kelsey Brown
Z2Data
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Martin Riedel
Martin Riedel Consulting
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Oliver Hoffmann
Z2Data
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Simran Gajra
Horlebein Consulting
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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.
Standards and regulations (What you must comply with)
Data, practical tools and case studies (What helps you make decisions)
Execution: Company processes and culture (How you actually work)
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.
Proactively identifying components, technologies, and their lifecycle risks is the foundation of resilient product design. This step outlines how to build a master component database, assess obsolescence, supply chain vulnerabilities, compliance, and ESG factors—ensuring early risk visibility and strategic mitigation.
Author: Nathan Eldridge (Elekta Ltd)
02.
Monitoring & Early Warning Systems
TBD
Author: Andrew Heath (Sourceability)
03.
Strong supplier relationships are the backbone of resilient product strategies. This step shows how trust, transparency, and structured collaboration can prevent obsolescence surprises, enable early warnings, and foster co-creation. Learn how the Triple Fit Framework turns partnerships into strategic assets for continuity and innovation.
Author: Martin Riedel (Martin Riedel Consulting) | Co-Author: Christoph Horlebein (Horlebein Consulting)
04.
Product Risk Analysis
This step introduces a structured, data-driven approach to assess product risks across lifecycle, supply chain, compliance, and ESG dimensions. Learn how to evaluate likelihood and impact, build risk profiles, and justify resilience investments—transforming risk management from reactive firefighting into a strategic business advantage.
Author: Björn Bartels (AMSYS)
05.
Regulatory shifts like RoHS, REACH, PFAS bans, and conflict minerals laws drive obsolescence and supply risk. This step outlines how to integrate compliance into design, procurement, and supplier management—avoiding costly redesigns, ensuring market access, and building resilience in a fast-changing legal landscape.
Author: Kelsey Brown (Z2Data)
06.
Last Time Buys & Stockpiling
LTBs can prevent redesigns and ensure continuity—but they come with hidden costs. This step explores how to calculate LTB quantities, weigh redesign vs. stockpiling, and apply models like Porter Refresh and MOCA. Learn how to store, monitor, and preserve LTB inventory to avoid degradation, waste, and compliance risks.
Author: John Wombwell (CNX)
07.
Predictive Maintenance / System Sustainment / System Management
TBD
Author: Andrew Heath (Sourceability)
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: Oliver Hoffmann (COGD | Z2Data)
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.
Author: TBD (TBD)
10.
Communication & Reporting
Clear communication and transparent reporting are the backbone of effective product risk management. This step shows how cultural openness, structured reporting, and AI-powered dashboards enable early warnings, cross-functional alignment, and fact-based decisions—turning risk from a surprise into a manageable strategy.
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