REPLACING OBSOLETE ASICS AND ICS

摘要

It is equally important to avoid design changes which would lead to a need for the hardware to be re-qualified to verify that it meets, for example, the necessary military specifications. Re-design and re-qualification procedures will add both cost, typically about ￡250 000, and delay to the procurement of the circuit board, which may be required for immediate use. Purchasing fresh supplies of the original ASICs is often not possible. Parts which were standard at the time of manufacture but are now obsolete may prove impossible to obtain. The prudent component procurement manager will put aside a stock of original ASICs, providing authorisation for an upfront spend can be obtained.