International Institute of Obsolescence Management

The International Institute of Obsolescence Management, abbreviated IIOM, formerly known as the Component Obsolescence Group, is a professional body dedicated to addressing the challenges of component and material obsolescence in industries with long product life cycles such as aerospace, defense, nuclear energy, rail transportation, and industrial automation. Obsolescence management has become increasingly critical as the lifecycle of electronic components shortens while the operational life of military aircraft, nuclear power plants, and railway signaling systems extends over decades or even half a century. A military aircraft program such as the Lockheed Martin F-35 may remain in service for fifty years, while the electronic components within its systems may be discontinued by manufacturers after only five to ten years, creating significant supply chain continuity challenges. IIOM provides training and certification in obsolescence management practices, organizes an annual international conference bringing together obsolescence professionals from aerospace companies including Airbus, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and BAE Systems, publishes best practice guides on proactive obsolescence management, and maintains a database of component lifecycle information accessible to member organizations.