Obsolescence Process Manager

Gerrell & Hard Limited; Great Yarmouth; On-site; GBP 48,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Gerrell & Hard Limited is seeking an Obsolescence Process Manager in Great Yarmouth for a permanent, on-site role. You will establish an auditable process across the product lifecycle, coordinating between Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality and Programme Management to mitigate lifecycle risks and protect production continuity.

The role involves maintaining data in ERP/PLM systems, leading Obsolescence Review Meetings, and driving continuous improvement in obsolescence ownership with strong

Qualifications

• Experience in obsolescence, DMSMS and lifecycle management.
• Strong data analysis and Excel skills.
• Experience with ERP/MRP, PLM, change control processes.
• Ability to influence across functions and manage risks.

Responsibilities

• Own and maintain the obsolescence management process, governance, procedures, registers and Obsolescence Management Plans.
• Monitor bills of material, approved parts and materials for lifecycle risks using supplier notices, product change notifications, end-of-life notices, market intelligence and approved lifecycle tools.
• Maintain accurate ERP, PLM and obsolescence system data, including lifecycle status, affected products, risk ratings, owners, actions and due dates.
• Assess the impact of obsolescence issues across safety, compliance, quality, configuration, cost, inventory, schedule, production continuity and product supportability.
• Coordinate cross-functional investigations and recommend appropriate mitigation, including alternative sources, form-fit-function substitutes, last-time or lifetime buys, repair, redesign, technology refresh or controlled product phase-out.
• Assist with business cases and technical recommendations, balancing lifecycle demand, total cost, lead times, minimum order quantities, storage life, qualification requirements and residual risk.
• Work with Engineering, Quality and Programme Management to ensure replacement solutions are appropriately evaluated, qualified, approved and implemented through formal change control.
• Work with Supply Chain to validate lifecycle information, identify alternatives and improve the quality and timeliness of obsolescence data.
• Chair regular Obsolescence Review Meetings, communicating priorities, decisions, dependencies and escalations and driving actions through to verified closure.
• Develop and report KPIs covering exposure, ageing, response time, mitigation status, cost avoidance, residual risk and data quality.
• Support new product introduction, sourcing and design reviews by promoting lifecycle-aware component selection, second-source strategies and long-term availability considerations.
• Ensure proposed mitigations comply with applicable quality, regulatory, environmental, export-control, customer, counterfeit-avoidance and traceability requirements.
• Provide training, guidance and continuous improvement to help embed proactive obsolescence ownership across relevant functions.

Skills

Obsolescence management

Lifecycle management

ERP/PLM data

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder management

Education

HNC/HND or degree in engineering or related

Job description

Obsolescence Process Manager | Great Yarmouth | Permanent | On-site | £48,000–£60,000

We are looking for an experienced Obsolescence Process Manager to establish and operate a proactive, auditable obsolescence management process across the product lifecycle.
This is a cross-functional role working closely with Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, Operations and Programme, Project & Product Management to identify lifecycle risks, assess their impact and coordinate effective mitigation to protect production continuity, product supportability and customer commitments.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and maintain the obsolescence management process, governance, procedures, registers and Obsolescence Management Plans.
• Monitor bills of material, approved parts and materials for lifecycle risks using supplier notices, product change notifications, end-of-life notices, market intelligence and approved lifecycle tools.
• Maintain accurate ERP, PLM and obsolescence system data, including lifecycle status, affected products, risk ratings, owners, actions and due dates.
• Assess the impact of obsolescence issues across safety, compliance, quality, configuration, cost, inventory, schedule, production continuity and product supportability.
• Coordinate cross-functional investigations and recommend appropriate mitigation, including alternative sources, form-fit-function substitutes, last-time or lifetime buys, repair, redesign, technology refresh or controlled product phase-out.
• Assist with business cases and technical recommendations, balancing lifecycle demand, total cost, lead times, minimum order quantities, storage life, qualification requirements and residual risk.
• Work with Engineering, Quality and Programme Management to ensure replacement solutions are appropriately evaluated, qualified, approved and implemented through formal change control.
• Work with Supply Chain to validate lifecycle information, identify alternatives and improve the quality and timeliness of obsolescence data.
• Chair regular Obsolescence Review Meetings, communicating priorities, decisions, dependencies and escalations and driving actions through to verified closure.
• Develop and report KPIs covering exposure, ageing, response time, mitigation status, cost avoidance, residual risk and data quality.
• Support new product introduction, sourcing and design reviews by promoting lifecycle-aware component selection, second-source strategies and long-term availability considerations.
• Ensure proposed mitigations comply with applicable quality, regulatory, environmental, export-control, customer, counterfeit-avoidance and traceability requirements.
• Provide training, guidance and continuous improvement to help embed proactive obsolescence ownership across relevant functions.

About You

You will ideally have experience in obsolescence, DMSMS, component engineering, product lifecycle management, through-life support or technical supply chain management.

You will also have:

• HNC/HND, degree or equivalent experience in electronic, electrical, mechanical, manufacturing or systems engineering, supply chain, or a related technical discipline.
• Knowledge of electronic, electromechanical or mechanical components and their lifecycle risks.
• Experience interpreting bills of material, engineering drawings, specifications, supplier notices and lifecycle data.
• Understanding of ERP/MRP and PLM systems, configuration control and engineering change processes.
• Experience of risk assessment, technical investigations, mitigation planning and supplier engagement.
• Knowledge of IEC 62402, counterfeit avoidance, REACH, RoHS and relevant aerospace or defence quality requirements.
• Strong analytical, data-management and problem-solving skills.
• Advanced Excel capability and confidence working with lifecycle databases and reporting tools.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, risks, actions and deadlines.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• A proactive, resilient and detail-oriented approach, with the ability to work autonomously while coordinating cross-functional teams.

Additional Requirements

• SC clearance or the ability to obtain SC clearance.
• Ability to travel to company, supplier and customer locations as required.
• Flexibility to work additional hours where business-critical obsolescence events require urgent action.

£48,000–£60,000 | Permanent | Great Yarmouth | On-site