What happens in the days that follow depends largely on who you’re working with. This is where the difference between an experienced EMS partner and a vendor becomes concrete.
When IMS sees a problem, you hear about it first.
The first thing a good contract manufacturer does when availability issues surface isn’t wait for you to ask. IMS monitors component lifecycles and availability across customer BOMs, and when something changes, we reach out. The earlier that conversation happens, the more options exist.
Finding the part through the right channels.
The first response to an electronic parts shortage is sourcing. IMS maintains relationships with multiple distributors, which means access to a wider pool of availability than a single-source approach provides. A component that’s allocation-constrained through one channel may still be accessible through another.
This is also where IMS’s established broker relationships become relevant. When standard distribution can’t fill the gap, brokers are sometimes the only option. IMS works exclusively with brokers it knows and has terms with.
For a fuller picture of how broker sourcing works and what the risks look like in a constrained market, the context in our article on component availability and rising costs is worth reading.
When the part changes but the design doesn’t.
When a part simply isn’t available through any channel at a workable price or timeline, the next step is identifying a substitute. This means finding a component that meets the same form, fit, and function requirements as the original, without requiring significant changes to the board design.
IMS’s manufacturing experience across a wide range of customer products means we’ve worked through substitution scenarios before. We know what to look for in an alternate, how to evaluate whether it’s genuinely compatible, and what testing is needed before committing to a production run. Substitution isn’t always possible, but when it is, it’s usually the fastest path back to a normal build schedule.
Documenting potential alternates in your BOM during the design phase is worth doing before you ever need them. Customers who’ve done that work ahead of time move through substitution considerably faster when a shortage hits.
If the availability issue you’re facing is tied to a component going end-of-life rather than a market shortage, the considerations are somewhat different. IMS has written about component obsolescence planning specifically, and it’s worth a read if that’s the situation you’re navigating.
When the design needs to change.
Some shortages can’t be resolved through alternate sourcing. The component is unique, the substitutes don’t meet spec, and the timeline for waiting out the shortage isn’t compatible with your production schedule. In those cases, a design adjustment may be the most practical path forward.
This doesn’t necessarily mean a full redesign. Sometimes it means modifying a portion of the board to accommodate a different component family or working around a specific function that’s currently dependent on an unavailable part. IMS’s design for manufacturability expertise means we can have that conversation practically, based on what’s actually buildable and available, not just what’s theoretically possible.
Design adjustments take more time than substitution. They also require close collaboration between your engineering team and IMS. But for builds with longer timelines or products with extended lifecycles, it’s often the right call over a costly last-minute scramble.
When the timeline needs to shift.
Sometimes the right answer is simply to adjust the build timeline. If a component is available but delayed, and the delay is manageable within your broader project schedule, IMS can work around changes when orders are in place. The earlier your POs are confirmed, the more flexibility exists on both sides to absorb a shifting timeline without derailing the build entirely.
What doesn’t work is trying to manage schedule flexibility without orders in place. Without confirmed POs, IMS can’t hold production capacity or prioritize material sourcing around your build. The flexibility exists, but it has to be built on a foundation of committed orders.
Already dealing with a shortage? Talk to IMS.
If the electronic parts shortage is affecting your build, or you want to pressure-test your BOM before it does, reach our team at 587-816-4300 or contact us here.
