Component obsolescence management model for long life cycle embedded system

This paper discusses the component obsolescence problem and presents a mathematic model for life cycle analysis of long life cycle embedded system maintenance. This model can estimate minimized management costs for different system architecture. Matlab is used to generate a graph and Lingo is used for linear programming. A simple CAN controller system case study is shown to apply this model. A minimized management cost and an optimized management time schedule are given as the result. The responses from the experiments of the model meet our expectation. Although the model has lots of simplifications and limitations, it can give management strategy guidance to the designers who suffer from component obsolescence problems.