Obsolescence Process Manager

Overview

In this role you own and operate a proactive obsolescence-management process across the product lifecycle, safeguarding production continuity and customer commitments. You collaborate with Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, Operations and Programme Management to prioritise and close obsolescence issues. You monitor lifecycle status, assess risks, and drive timely, cost-effective mitigations. The role combines governance, data quality, and cross-functional leadership to enable lifecycle-aware decision making.

Responsibilities

• Own and maintain the obsolescence-management process, governance, procedures, and plans aligned with IEC 62402 and contractual requirements.
• Monitor BOMs, approved parts, and lifecycle-related notices using supplier notices and lifecycle tools.
• Maintain accurate ERP, PLM and obsolescence-system data (lifecycle status, risks, owners, actions, due dates).
• Assess impact of obsolescence on safety, compliance, quality, cost, inventory and production continuity.
• Coordinate cross-functional investigations and recommend mitigations (alternate sources, form-fit-function substitutions, last-time buys, redesign, phase-out).
• Assist preparation of robust business cases balancing lifecycle demand, cost, lead time and residual risk.
• Ensure replacement solutions are evaluated and implemented through formal change control with Engineering, Quality and Programme Management.
• Coordinate with Supply Chain to improve timeliness and quality of obsolescence data.
• Chair Obsolescence Review Meetings and drive actions to closure.
• Develop and report KPIs on exposure, ageing, response time, mitigation and data quality.
• Support NPI and design reviews with lifecycle-aware component selection and long-term availability considerations.
• Ensure mitigations comply with quality, regulatory, environmental and export-control requirements.
• Provide training and continuous improvement to embed proactive obsolescence ownership.

Key requirements

• Experience with obsolescence, DMSMS, lifecycle management or technical supply-chain management.
• Knowledge of electronic/electromechanical/mechanical components and their lifecycle risks.
• Experience interpreting BOMs, drawings, specifications and lifecycle data.
• Understanding of ERP/MRP and PLM systems, configuration control and engineering change processes.
• Experience in risk assessment, investigations, mitigation planning and supplier engagement.
• Knowledge of IEC 62402, counterfeit avoidance, REACH, RoHS, and aerospace/defence quality requirements.

• Strong analytical and data-management abilities
• Excellent written and verbal communication; stakeholder management
• Problem-solving, proactive and autonomous work style
• Excel (advanced)
• Lifecycle databases and reporting tools
• ERP and PLM systems

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