Delkin Blog

Extended life cycle, or ELC, products are essential components of many industrial applications. With ELC products, OEMs get the support they need throughout the life of their existing products, and they get assistance with transitioning to a new product when their existing storage device or other component is being discontinued. At Delkin, all of our storage solutions are ELC products, which gives our customers the confidence they need to manage their applications without concerns about unexpected component changes. Here is what you need to know.

What exactly are ELC products?

ELC products come with extended life cycle management. This means that these products are backed by management from the manufacturer at all stages of their life. With ELC products, OEMs get help with managing the product throughout its lifespan, including troubleshooting when necessary. When the product in question is scheduled to be discontinued or is simply coming to the end of its useful life in the application, the manufacturer will guide the OEM through the process of transitioning to a new product, so that any potential complications are minimized.

At Delkin, ELC management works in conjunction with a controlled bill of materials (BOM) on our industrial products. A controlled BOM ensures that no changes will be made to the flash, controller, or firmware of any product, unless its part number is discontinued. With ELC management, if a part number is scheduled to be discontinued, OEMs will receive help in transitioning to a product with a new part number.

What happens during ELC management?

The process of ELC management depends on the OEM’s needs. However, a large part of management depends on identifying when changes need to be made and creating a plan for the transition. This usually includes re-qualifying of a new part within the application, so that it can be adopted with confidence when it is time to release it into the field. It may also involve customization of the new product to meet host-specific design needs. Essentially, ELC product management involves any process necessary for the OEM to switch to a new product.

Why are ELC products important?

For industrial grade applications, ELC products are essential. Retail grade products are frequently subjected to redesigns in order to make them more cost effective, but these redesigns can set off a cascade of errors for industrial applications. Using ELC products in industrial applications prevents this from happening. ELC product management also reduces the burden on OEMs to conduct re-qualifications, which saves both time and money.

Delkin is proud to offer ELC products as part of our commitment to providing reliable storage solutions. To learn more, contact our customer service team today.