Long lead times

[Jeroen3]

Since the start of this year. More and more assembly projects here are stalled because of unobtainable components. Like diodes, fets, gate drivers and especially capacitors.
Seems like the predictions of last year are coming true.

So it's definitely biting us now. How bad will it get?

[mrpackethead]

Something i do, is check avaialbility when i design somethign in.  If its not in stock at 3 vendors ( use something like octopart.com ) Then i flag it as a possible issue.   You have to make your own call on this, and sometimes the thing you need is single source only.   But its at least worth being aware of that it might be an issue

[DerekG]

More and more assembly projects here are stalled because of unobtainable components. Like diodes, fets, gate drivers and especially capacitors.

Microprocessors as well. The STM8S micros are some of the best value bottom to midrange micros around.

Digikey has a 30 week wait with none showing in stock on Octopart for the incredible value STM8S003F3P6TR (US$0.35) & the STM8S003K3T6CTR ($US$0.51).

Last year right up to December, these were quite plentiful.

[Jeroen3]

I've noticed descending stock levels on micro's as well. I've raised flags about this last year, especially since some are one leg in NRND, meaning distributors will stop stocking them.
And then you'll have to buy from the vendors directly, with the associated lead times.
But apparently putting them on stock ourselves or at the assembly house is deemed "too expensive". It will be fun when those are unobtainable.

[PTR_1275]

We’ve been getting quoted 26-40 weeks on diodes, fets and some sensors too. Nothing fancy, but they want to keep using the same parts that they have since the products were released (that is until our next major update when they’ll probably change components)

One accelerometer the engineers decided to use had a 3 week lead time. Placed the order for 5,000. It kept getting bumped back month after month, only little bits at a time. In the end it was nearly 48 weeks by the time we got the parts.

[jmelson]

40 - 48 WEEKS??  How the HELL can you run a business with that kind of lead time?  I did, once, have a part with an insane lead time.  It was a 4-channel DAC, I was paying $30 each for them, and the distributor said they were on back order with no clear delivery time.  I inquired direct to the manufacturer, and they eventually sent me an email with the exact date the parts would be produced -- over TWO YEARS in the future!
I was in a panic, and started searching what little info was on the web back in the late 1990's.  I found TI had a part with a similar number, and reading the data sheet, it appeared to be a drop-in replacement, at only, $3 each.  I ordered some, all the while thinking "there's got to be a catch, I can't replace a $30 part with a $3 part, can I?"  Well, the $3 in-stock part worked perfectly.

I've had a few other parts that got hard to get, but I've been able to find them SOMEWHERE.

But, then, I had some single-source parts that were PERFECT for the application, and then they were discontinued!  I had to redesign the board.  UGH!

Jon

[Jeroen3]

Aside from long lead times, I'm also expecting lots of discontinuations this and next year.
Recent mergers and backlog will require more capacity. One of the ways to do that is to cancel parts.

[Cerebus]

..., especially since some are one leg in NRND, ...

Not so serious when there are 143 legs to go. 

I've been seeing "out of stock" more and more often recently. It's not concentrated in any particular sort or sorts of parts but across the board. I forget exactly what part it was but a couple of days back there was one part that was OOS and on a long lead time, and it was the kind of thing that made me say "HOW can they be out of X" in the same way I'd say it if I went into the bakers at 9 am and they said "No bread for a week, sorry".

Aside from long lead times, I'm also expecting lots of discontinuations this and next year.
Recent mergers and backlog will require more capacity. One of the ways to do that is to cancel parts.

Yeah, and those cancelled parts will be the ones with just the right combination of parameters for some awkward task that comes up repeatedly or a part that does a job that next to nothing else will do (like my favourite 500V depletion mode MOSFET the LND150).

[Cerebus]

I found TI had a part with a similar number, and reading the data sheet, it appeared to be a drop-in replacement, at only, $3 each.  I ordered some, all the while thinking "there's got to be a catch, I can't replace a $30 part with a $3 part, can I?"  Well, the $3 in-stock part worked perfectly.

I've had exactly the same thing with a TI part that was the expensive one and an ADI part that was the cheap, direct replacement. Usually you'd expect that to be the other way around like your one was.

[Jeroen3]

And we're out of electrolytics, 30 weeks lead time and the alternatives don't fit. 

[jmelson]

And we're out of electrolytics, 30 weeks lead time and the alternatives don't fit. 

WOW!  It just keeps getting WORSE!  I try to buy the parts and have them all in house before I order the boards, now!  But, I tend to buy a couple years worth of boards, so I hate to have all those parts sitting around.  All this 30 - 50 week lead time is, indeed, really SCARY!

Jon

[katy201607]

30 weeks are too long. some supplier or manufacturer can offer turnkey service, it will be shorter for lead time.

[noras]

Is it because of the WTO or the current trade war?
I now have a lot of purchased components, delivery time is very long, or out of stock.

[svenskelektronik]

We are also affected by this.

Its not a easy problem to sovle but here is some things we try to do:

• Direct contact with manufacturers
• Noticing customers with recurring products when components gets flagged NRND, last time buy or low inventory levels.
• Working with suppliers thats stocks rare components

[Jeroen3]

Yeah, we have outsource manufacturing to assembly houses. We make low quantity industrial and marine devices. It's very hard to just keep up and "buy stock" when it's not sure you'll be selling.
Can't really be contacting the manufacturer directly for 100 parts. The assembly house does have it's channels in acquiring parts, possibly from their competitors.

[aldi]

We are also struggling with this problem, it's very difficult for small companies to keep everything on stock. I designed a product around a ti battery charger/gauge chip, when I started: >1000 on stock at all big suppliers, now that the product is ready after ~2months of development: nothing, with a lead time of >26 weeks.... Even simple 100nF ceramics are getting hard to come by (do a search for 100nF/50V/0603)

[halexa]

Hi,

Can only agree, even worse when you do Automotive projects and have to stick to AEC-Q rated components.

Were designing in a High side driver from ST.com. They told me to change to another brand since they had a backlog on projects already in production were they could not deliver to.

[tszaboo]

Today I've got info or a simple resistor, inverse package, out of stock everywhere, alternatives also. Lead time of 40 weeks. I'm guessing that all the consumer electronics is getting very complex, the margins are very small and it just sucks up all the manufacturing capacity. Yes, simple TVS diodes with 40+ lead times and so.
To be clear, I would rather pay extra and get them in time, because the market I'm working (and the margin working with) on tolerates this.
I dont know how this can be solved. Are we supposed to keep a yearly production of all the BOMs in stock? Have half a year time to market for new products? Anyway, next time I see the guys from Arrow or Avnet, I'm going to ask them what is going on.

[DerekG]

next time I see the guys from Arrow or Avnet, I'm going to ask them what is going on.

We ordered some +-2% zener diodes from Arrow last year. Delivery time was 5 months. One value arrived last week & the second value we assume will arrive in the next couple of weeks.

[Cerebus]

Even simple 100nF ceramics are getting hard to come by (do a search for 100nF/50V/0603)

https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/KEMET/C0603C104M5RACTU?qs=sGAEpiMZZMukHu%252bjC5l7YQ78sP5z%2fkarJZDoYGwZaBA%3d

3.38 million in stock plus 2.84 million on order by Mouser.

Yeah, at £0.047 GBP each in reel (4000) quantity. A more normal price for those quantities would be £0.01 GBP each, but those are all out of stock.

[tszaboo]

Even simple 100nF ceramics are getting hard to come by (do a search for 100nF/50V/0603)

https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/KEMET/C0603C104M5RACTU?qs=sGAEpiMZZMukHu%252bjC5l7YQ78sP5z%2fkarJZDoYGwZaBA%3d

3.38 million in stock plus 2.84 million on order by Mouser.

lol 200 GBP for a reel. This should be something like 7-10GBP.

[mikeselectricstuff]

Even simple 100nF ceramics are getting hard to come by (do a search for 100nF/50V/0603)

https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/KEMET/C0603C104M5RACTU?qs=sGAEpiMZZMukHu%252bjC5l7YQ78sP5z%2fkarJZDoYGwZaBA%3d

3.38 million in stock plus 2.84 million on order by Mouser.

lol 200 GBP for a reel. This should be something like 7-10GBP.

But what is the cost of not having that part when you need to start production?
Time to play decoupling Jenga perhaps..?

[Mark]

Ordered some capacitors yesterday...

CAP, MLCC, C0G/NP0, 15NF, 25V,  Estimated Delivery 25/02/2019

[Jeroen3]

And when do you need them?