ByteSnap Design, one of the UK’s leading embedded software and electronic design consultancies, has released a free interactive BOM Health Self-Assessment tool, helping engineering managers and technical directors understand their organisation’s exposure to component obsolescence risk.
The online calculator is designed for manufacturers who suspect component obsolescence may be slowing them down but lack clear visibility into whether their current processes are sufficient. Rather than reacting to shortages or discontinuations after production is affected, the tool helps teams evaluate their readiness upfront. Many manufacturers lack a clear way to judge whether their current, reactive approach to BOM management is exposing them to unnecessary cost and disruption.
The assessment is based on a structured questionnaire made up of 10 targeted questions that examine how organisations manage component lifecycle change across their product portfolios. Areas covered include internal engineering capacity, product portfolio complexity, response speed to supplier notifications, and the operational and financial impact of unexpected component changes.
Results are generated immediately after completion showing a score out of 20 (for example, “11/20 – Moderate Need”). Scores are grouped into clear risk bands and accompanied by a short explanation of what the result means, along with a recommended next step, such as whether a complimentary consultation could help reduce engineering workload and exposure to disruption.
Without proactive visibility, manufacturers often only discover obsolescence issues once production is interrupted. Emergency redesigns, substitute component qualification, and unplanned downtime can result in costs of £30,000 to £100,000 per incident, as well as weeks of production delay. This risk is often amplified when key engineering staff leave or are stretched thin, taking critical knowledge of component dependencies and design trade-offs with them.
Recent client results showcase the benefits of proactive management. A heating controls manufacturer reduced component alert overload affecting their technical director, allowing the engineering team to concentrate on next-generation product development rather than administrative BOM tracking. A social housing systems manufacturer that faced a six-month production halt due to discontinued microcontrollers resumed production in eight weeks at 25% of the complete redesign costs.
Dunstan Power, Director at ByteSnap Design, said: “Most technical directors know component risk is increasing, but they don’t always have a clear way to quantify it. By turning that uncertainty into a score, this tool helps engineering leaders judge whether their current processes are sufficient or whether the risk has reached a point where change is justified.”
The assessment complements ByteSnap Design’s Obsolescence Management as a Service (OMaaS), which provides ongoing component lifecycle monitoring for organisations that determine outsourced support would be beneficial.
Organisations that score high on the assessment can schedule free consultations to review their specific BOM management situations and see if OMaaS could benefit their operations. The assessment is available now at no cost through ByteSnap Design’s website.
Technical directors interested in assessing their BOM management approach can access the interactive assessment tool at www.bytesnap.com/electronic-design/bom-monitoring-service.
About ByteSnap Design
ByteSnap Design is one of the UK’s leading electronics engineering consultancies, trusted by businesses worldwide to develop next-generation technology products. With over 18 years of experience and award-winning expertise, including embedded Linux, IoT, ATEX & FPGA development, and cybersecurity, ByteSnap Design delivers world-class embedded systems for clients from innovative start-ups to global corporations.
There’s more to discover at www.bytesnap.com
