Every test and measurement setup is unique in its lifespan and maintenance needs. With this in mind, NI (now a part of Emerson) has developed an in-depth product lifecycle for their hardware that utilizes modern tools and anticipates technological advancements. In this post, we will examine the importance of product lifecycles as a whole, dive into the different stages of NI’s own product lifecycle, and take a look at how Apex Waves fills in the gaps.
A product lifecycle describes the phases that a product goes through as it enters, is established in, and exits the market.
Product lifecycles are not unique to NI. In fact, one of the first published instances of this concept goes all the way back to the 1920s/1930s with New York advertising agency founder Otto Kleppner’s Advertising Procedure. In this book, Kleppner outlines “pioneering”, “competitive”, and “retentive” as three distinct stages of a rudimentary product lifecycle.
In 1985, American Motors became one of the first companies to embrace a contemporary product lifecycle management system with the release of the Jeep Grand Cherokee in order to compete with larger rivals and expedite product development.
In our modern world of rapid technological advancements, product lifecycles are a vital structure for helping manufacturers plan for updates, mitigate the impacts of obsolescence, and take advantage of the most recent technology.
Products going through NI’s lifecycle are facilitated by a personal contact from NI’s sales operations team. The services focus on replacing and repairing products with the same model, and NI maintains intellectual property for that specific purpose.
Every year, NI undergoes a program management review. This results in a thorough evaluation of product lifecycle status and goes over suggested improvements, helping to sustain engineering planning.
NI’s product lifecycle initially had four phases: Active, Mature, Maintenance, and Discontinued. In 2024, these phases were expanded into the current six-phase model, which includes Active, Mature, Last Time Buy, Standard Support, Limited Support, and Discontinued phases.
“Active” products refer to the most current ones on the market. “Mature” products are still available for purchase from the manufacturer but are being phased out of production. This phase-out begins when NI no longer recommends the product for new designs because an upgraded replacement has been chosen. The length of this phase depends on when the recommended replacement is set to be released and when a Last Time Buy Date is announced.
A Last Time Buy Date marks the official last date that a specific part can be purchased from the manufacturer. The Mature phase may be skipped entirely if a product is given a Last Time Buy Date without having a planned replacement part. The “Last Time Buy” phase is based on and concludes with the Last Time Buy date.
After the product is officially no longer available for purchase from NI, it moves on to the “Standard Support” phase. During this phase of the lifecycle, support services such as repair and calibration are still offered in accordance with the warranty of the product. This typically lasts for one year, but it may be longer for any clients with extended warranties. The following “Limited Support” phase indicates that the product is nearing the end of its lifecycle. Repairs and calibrations are no longer guaranteed, and NI offers only “reasonable effort” for servicing these products.
The final stage of NI’s product lifecycle, “Discontinued,” is when the product is no longer supported by NI. The only exception is an offer of “reasonable effort” for calibration of these parts. Products in this phase are also commonly referred to as “Obsolete,” “End-of-Life,” or “Legacy”.
Many critical industries, such as aerospace and defense, are subject to guidelines and restrictions that necessitate the use of specific test benches for decades. This reliance on specific test equipment can cause issues with obsolescence, as upgraded replacements and new designs of products can impact the lifecycle status of the specific parts that are needed.
This is where Apex Waves steps in. We specialize in obsolete and legacy equipment, with over 10,000 models in stock and ready to ship. There are no “Last Time Buy Dates” with us, and we buy, sell, and repair models regardless of their current phase in the product lifecycle.
We prevent harmful downtime by offering significantly quicker lead times for companies that are waiting on a specific product to keep their system running. We offer extensive warranty guarantees dependent on part condition, and we are able to quickly send parts to NI for calibration.
We offer international and expedited shipping options, as well as free ground shipping within the United States. If you need to purchase or receive support services for an obsolete product, get in touch with us today!
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