BS EN IEC 62402:2019 - TC

What is BS EN IEC 62402 - Obsolescence management about?  

BS EN IEC 62402 provides requirements and guidance for obsolescence management applicable to any organization that is dependent on another organization to obtain value from the usefulness of the items that it provides. A cost-effective obsolescence management process and the activities used to implement the process are applicable throughout all phases of an item’s life.  

BS EN IEC 62402 details how organizations should go about instituting obsolescence management which can minimize the costs and detrimental impacts of obsolescence. 

BS EN IEC 62402 covers the following areas: 

• Establishing an obsolescence management policy 
• Establishing infrastructure and an organization 
• Developing an obsolescence management plan (OMP) 
• Developing strategies to minimize obsolescence during the design 
• Determining an obsolescence management approach 
• Selecting obsolescence resolution and implementation 
• Measuring and improving the performance of the outcomes of the obsolescence management activities 

Note: Guidance on obsolescence management is included as notes, in the informative annexes and references in the Bibliography. 

Who is BS EN IEC 62402 - Obsolescence management for? 

BS EN IEC 62402  on obsolescence management is useful for: 

• Product manufacturer 
• Product supplier 
• Quality control personnel  
• Software engineers 

BS EN IEC 62402 will be used by those involved in their organization’s obsolescence management. 

Why should you use BS EN IEC 62402 - Obsolescence management?  

BS EN IEC 62402 explains a discipline used at all phases of an item’s life cycle to ensure an item and its sub-items can continue to fulfill their requirements over their expected useful life called Obsolescence management. BS EN IEC 62402 takes a different view of obsolescence from the standard dictionary definition. Instead of an item becoming outdated or no longer used, BS EN IEC 62402 views obsolescence as the transition of a required item still in use from available to unavailable from the manufacturer. Any item that remains in use will be subject to obsolescence. Obsolescence manifests itself as difficulty in obtaining supplies, spares and/or support.  

BS EN IEC 62402 defines the requirements for managing the obsolescence of any type of item. Obsolescence management helps prevent unnecessary losses (for example loss of commercial service or capability) and treat risks associated with obsolescence. The assessment of risk associated with obsolescence takes account of factors including but not limited to: the likelihood of an item becoming obsolete during its expected useful life, the likelihood of an impact occurring during that projected useful life, and the severity of that impact. Obsolescence management treats risks associated with obsolescence by reducing the likelihood or severity of impact, or both. 

It has become essential to include obsolescence management within planning activities from the earliest life cycle phases. The guidance provided in BS EN IEC 62402 could be characterized as strategic obsolescence management when obsolescence management is planned and implemented during the early life cycle phases. Even though this situation may not be a direct case of obsolescence, BS EN IEC 62402 will also be of assistance in the management of items that have diminished manufacturing sources and materiel shortages that can result in long lead times, reduced availability and ultimately obsolescence of those items. 

What’s changed since the last update? . 

BS EN IEC 62402:2019 is the UK implementation of EN IEC 62402:2019 and it supersedes BS EN 62402:2007, which is withdrawn. The technical changes as compared to the first edition published in 2007 are: 

• BS EN IEC 62402:2019  has now been written with requirements as a standard, not a guide 
• BS EN IEC 62402:2019 continues to have guidance in the informative annexes 
• BS EN IEC 62402:2019 has been written as a general process for all technologies and items