ERAI’s 2025 Annual Report provides valuable insight into the continuing problem of counterfeit and nonconforming electronic components. Although the total number of parts reported fell during the year, the findings show that counterfeit components remain a significant global supply chain risk. ERAI received reports concerning 748 parts in 2025, a decrease of 29.1% compared with 2024. However, the previous year’s total included a single batch of 248 parts reported by the US Government. When this exceptional batch is excluded, the year-on-year reduction was only 7.4%.
Obsolete Components Industry News: page 1 of 5
Electronic component obsolescence is often viewed simply as a purchasing problem. A component reaches the end of its manufacturing life, the purchasing department struggles to find stock, and production is delayed until replacements can be sourced. In reality, the cost of obsolete electronic components extends far beyond the purchase price. The wider financial impact on a business can be significant, affecting production, engineering, customer relationships and long-term profitability.
Understanding these hidden costs can help businesses take a more strategic approach to managing component obsolescence.
Semiconductor Review has named ERAI its 2026 Anti-Counterfeit Solutions Provider of the Year, recognising its role in helping organisations manage supply chain risk and protect against counterfeit electronic components.
In electronics procurement, terms such as obsolete, end-of-life (EOL) and hard-to-find are often used interchangeably. In reality, they describe different stages in a component’s lifecycle, each with its own risks, costs and sourcing considerations. Understanding these distinctions helps engineers, buyers and procurement teams make more informed decisions.
The Center for Advanced Life Cycle Engineering at the University of Maryland published a study on Electronic Part Obsolescence. They identify the wide range of different costs of component obsolescence in the avionics sector.