Locating the right parts

Locating and sourcing a supplier of an obsolete mechanical component such as a bearing is a growing concern for many organisations, particularly if the component is part of a safety-critical system on an aircraft or nuclear power plant application.

Sourcing a bearing for a mechanical system on a military aircraft, for example, can be a challenging process, particularly if the system is an ageing one. The aircraft itself may have been in operational service for more than 40 years and may also be projected to remain in service for many more years to come.

However, if the operator needs to replace the original bearings there could be problems. the original supplier of the component may have ceased to exist, is now re-located overseas or perhaps is no longer willing to manufacture the equivalent bearing in small volumes of less than 1,000 units. This means that many aircraft and other mechanical system operators and managers are now facing significant bearing obsolescence issues, particularly if the quantity they require is relatively low.