Product End of Life

Question

Good morning all, I am researching how a company handles discontinuing a Product, does anyone know of any resources that relate to this? Any good case studies or checklist would be welcome, I am looking at putting together a top level process and then making recommendations to assist our individual departments with their own processes contributing to the company wide one. Any suggestions would be welcome.

Andy Millar · Accepted Answer

If you're making any of the following then there may be requirements for this, see https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2021/745/contents/made 
 CHAPTER 1 WELDING EQUIPMENT 
 CHAPTER 2 REFRIGERATING APPLIANCES WITH A DIRECT SALES FUNCTION 
 CHAPTER 3 HOUSEHOLD DISHWASHERS 
 CHAPTER 4 HOUSEHOLD WASHING MACHINES AND WASHER-DRYERS CHAPTER 5 REFRIGERATING APPLIANCES CHAPTER 6 ELECTRIC MOTORS AND VARIABLE SPEED DRIVES 
 CHAPTER 7 ELECTRONIC DISPLAYS 
 It's all very specific, for example for washing machines and washer-dryers it states: 
 (2) Manufacturers, authorised representatives or importers of household washing machines and household washer-dryers must make available to professional repairers at least the following spare parts, for a minimum period of 10 years after placing the last unit of the model on the market&mdash; 
 (a)motor and motor brushes; 
 (b)transmission between motor and drum; 
 (c)pumps; 
 (d)shock absorbers and springs; 
 (e)washing drum, drum spider and related ball bearings (separately or bundled); 
 (f)heaters and heating elements, including heat pumps (separately or bundled); 
 (g)piping and related equipment including all hoses, valves, filters and aquastops (separately or bundled); 
 (h)printed circuit boards; 
 (i)electronic displays; 
 (j)pressure switches; 
 (k)thermostats and sensors; 
 (l)software and firmware including reset software. 
 (3) Manufacturers, authorised representatives and importers of household washing machines and household washer-dryers must make available to professional repairers and end-users at least the following spare parts, for a minimum period of 10 years after placing the last unit of the model on the market&mdash; 
 (a)door, door hinge and door seals; 
 (b)other seals; 
 (c)door locking assembly and plastic peripherals such as detergent dispensers.

GTB · Answer

I would need to dig into my archives, but from my own experience, the original manufacturer when a product becomes discontinued, yes the original technical detail, instructions, parts list etc is all still availible on their website and product detail pages etc. 
 What some do, and I suspect its about reducing costs. Rather than keeping the required "Stock" of parts themselves for the expected time period, what they do is "Auction" off all those parts to a "Distributor" stockist. Who then incurrs the cost of actually holding the stock and making it available for sale, and of course its that "Stockest" that determines the cost of those spares going forward. The original manufacturer, then just has some kind of hyperlink on their website etc saying parts are availble from Messrs "X,Y,Z" so they incur no costs and actually gain funding from the "Stockist" who won the bid to hold those parts in stock. 
 If I remember correctly it was either Thorn Lighting or Phillips Lighting, I was looking for a replacement bezel for. The fitting had been made obsolete twelve months previous,and their sales department directed me to some electrical distributor I had never heard of in the middle of nowhere. 
 I contacted them and yes, they had all the parts, I gave them part No, and it was with me for a very pricely sum!!!! 
 Supply and demand, they had the part and I needed it for a job. 
 
 Cheers GTB

Sergio Fernandez · Answer

Some company's are very good at letting you know what is EOL (End Of Life) or no longer in production. They still support it normally in IT (Information Tech for about 5 years from the last production date) 
 
 As an Example here is Apple 
 
 support.apple.com/.../102772

mapj1 · Answer

Stop advertising it, remove it from catalogue. Possibly publish notice of intent to discontinue. 
 Advise current users when you will stop maintaining it and providing spares - maybe option for them to lifetime buy them. 
 Stop making it. 
 Politely decline future orders. Be aware that for about 25 years after folk will expect to be able to down load the handbooks and so on. 
 Anything more detailed rather depends what the 'it' actually is. Battleships, hand held radios and custom chips all require different timescales and approaches. Software is a law unto itself. 
 Mike.

Product End of Life

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