A product change notification (PCN) or an end-of-life (EOL) notice from a component manufacturer starts a clock. You have a limited time to decide whether to buy more, switch to another part or redesign. Making the decision early, with real numbers, avoids both line stoppages and expensive excess stock later. This guide explains what these notices mean and the steps to take after you receive one.
Key takeaways
- A PCN announces a change to a part (process, materials, site, packaging). An EOL notice announces that the part will stop being made, usually with a last-time-buy date.
- Your main options are a last-time buy, a qualified alternate, a redesign, or buying from the independent market later.
- Size a last-time buy on realistic remaining demand. Oversized last-time buys become tomorrow's excess inventory.
What is a PCN, and what is an EOL notice?
- A product change notification (PCN) tells customers about a change to a part: a new wafer fab or assembly site, a material change, a new marking or new packaging. The part number may stay the same.
- An end-of-life notice (sometimes called a product discontinuance notice) announces that the manufacturer will stop making the part. It usually gives a last-time-buy (LTB) date, after which orders are no longer accepted, and a last-time-ship date.
Manufacturers usually send these notices through distributors and their own notification systems. Make sure someone in your company is subscribed and responsible for reading them.
What should you do first?
- Find every product that uses the part. Search all active bills of materials, including products in maintenance or spare-part support.
- Check your stock and open orders. How many pieces do you hold, and how many are already on order?
- Estimate remaining demand. How long will each affected product stay in production or in support, and how many parts will that need?
- Check whether there is a recommended replacement from the manufacturer, and whether it is a drop-in part or needs design changes.
What are your options?
| Option | When it fits | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Last-time buy | The product has a known, limited remaining life | Cash tied up in stock; storage conditions; risk of overbuying |
| Qualified alternate | A drop-in or near drop-in part from the same or another manufacturer exists | Qualification effort; customer approval if required |
| Redesign | The product has a long life ahead, or no alternate exists | Engineering cost and time |
| Independent market later | Demand is small or uncertain | Availability and counterfeit risk rise over time |
Many companies combine options: a modest last-time buy to cover the transition, then a qualified alternate or redesign for the long term.
How do you size a last-time buy?
- Base it on realistic demand for the remaining life of each product, not the most optimistic forecast.
- Include service and spare-part needs if you support products after production ends.
- Allow for yield loss and scrap, but avoid adding large safety margins on top of a forecast that already has one.
- Consider storage: moisture-sensitive parts need proper dry storage, and very long storage raises solderability questions.
- Revisit the number if the product forecast changes before the last-time-buy date.
What if you already missed the last-time buy?
The part is still in the market for a while: distributor remainders, manufacturer surplus held by other companies, and broker stock. Buying from the independent market needs more care. See How to Avoid Counterfeit and Refurbished Electronic Components and Buying End-of-Life and Obsolete Electronic Components: What to Check.
How StockWake can help
Most of our stock is factory surplus — original-manufacturer parts that electronics manufacturers bought and never used. Distribution stock supplements hard-to-find and end-of-life parts. All parts are original, not refurbished or recycled.
Prices are not listed on the site. Send us the part numbers and quantities you need and we will email you a quotation in US dollars, including lead time and shipping cost. Quotations are valid for 7 days, subject to prior sale.
You may ask for an independent third-party lab test before shipment. The testing fee is paid by the buyer.
Frequently asked questions
Does a PCN mean the part is being discontinued? Not necessarily. Many PCNs announce changes to an active part, such as a new assembly site. An end-of-life notice is the one that announces discontinuation.
How long do we have after an EOL notice? It varies by manufacturer and part. The notice states the last-time-buy date; check it as soon as the notice arrives.
What do we do with leftover stock after the product ends? Offer it to other buyers. Parts you no longer need may be exactly what another manufacturer or repair team is looking for.
Need parts that are going end-of-life? Send us an RFQ or BOM.