Component Intelligence

What is the Components Module?

The Components module brings electronics procurement intelligence into Tawridy by connecting your BOMs and product catalog to global component databases via the Octopart/Nexar API. For every Manufacturer Part Number (MPN), you get real-time lifecycle status (Active, Not Recommended for New Designs, End of Life, Obsolete), cross-reference alternatives, RoHS/REACH compliance verification, and historical pricing trends. Product Change Notifications (PCN) are monitored automatically, alerting you when a component used in your active BOMs is being modified or discontinued by the manufacturer -- giving your engineering and procurement teams time to qualify alternatives before supply runs out.

How It Connects

Direction	Connected Module	Relationship
Out -->	BOMs	Component lifecycle and compliance data validate BOM line items
Out -->	Products	Component records enrich product catalog entries with manufacturer data
Out -->	Suppliers	Authorized distributor data identifies verified sourcing channels
In <--	RFQs	RFQ responses update component pricing data
Both	Compliance	RoHS/REACH status feeds into compliance tracking; compliance requirements trigger component checks

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Look up a component -- navigate to Catalog > Components and enter an MPN in the search bar. The system queries the Octopart/Nexar API and returns manufacturer data, specifications, lifecycle status, and distributor availability.
2. Review lifecycle status -- check the component's current lifecycle stage:
   • Active: In production, available for new designs.
   • NRND (Not Recommended for New Designs): Still available but the manufacturer advises against use in new projects.
   • EOL (End of Life): Production ending; last-time-buy dates may be announced.
   • Obsolete: No longer manufactured; seek alternatives immediately.
3. Check compliance -- review the RoHS and REACH compliance indicators. Green means compliant, amber means partial or unknown, red means non-compliant. Click for detailed substance declarations if available.
4. Find alternatives -- click the "Cross-Reference" tab to see pin-compatible or form-fit-function alternatives. The system ranks alternatives by compatibility score, availability, and pricing.
5. View pricing trends -- the "Price History" tab shows historical pricing across multiple distributors over 6, 12, or 24 months. Use this to time bulk purchases or identify price spikes.
6. Link to product catalog -- click "Add to Catalog" to create or link the component to a Tawridy product record. This enriches the product with manufacturer data and enables lifecycle monitoring.
7. Set up PCN monitoring -- components linked to active BOMs are automatically monitored for Product Change Notifications. When a PCN is detected, affected BOMs are flagged and stakeholders are notified.
8. Review PCN alerts -- navigate to Components > PCN Alerts to see all active notifications. Each alert shows the affected component, the nature of the change, impact assessment, and recommended actions.

Lifecycle Status Dashboard

Active (72%) ████████████████████████████████████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
NRND   (15%) ████████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
EOL     (8%) ████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
Obsolete(5%) ███░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░

Cross-Reference Example

Original MPN	Manufacturer	Alternative MPN	Alt. Manufacturer	Compatibility	Status	Unit Price
LM7805CT	TI	L7805CV	STMicro	Pin-compatible	Active	$0.42
LM7805CT	TI	MC7805CTG	onsemi	Pin-compatible	Active	$0.38
LM7805CT	TI	KA7805ERTM	Allegro	Functional equiv.	Active	$0.51

Key Fields Explained

Field	Description
mpn	Manufacturer Part Number -- the unique identifier assigned by the component manufacturer.
manufacturer	The company that produces the component (e.g., Texas Instruments, STMicroelectronics).
description	Technical description from the manufacturer's catalog.
lifecycle_status	Current production status: Active, NRND, EOL, or Obsolete.
rohs_status	RoHS compliance: Compliant, Non-Compliant, or Unknown.
reach_status	REACH compliance: Compliant, Contains SVHC (Substances of Very High Concern), or Unknown.
datasheet_url	Link to the manufacturer's official datasheet (PDF).
category	Component category: IC, Passive, Connector, Electromechanical, etc.
specifications	Key electrical parameters: package type, voltage range, temperature range, etc.
distributor_stock	Real-time stock availability across authorized distributors.
price_breaks	Tiered pricing: 1+, 10+, 100+, 1000+ unit prices from distributors.
last_checked	Timestamp of the most recent API data refresh.
pcn_alerts	Active Product Change Notifications affecting this component.
affected_boms	List of BOMs that use this component (for impact analysis).

Tips & Best Practices

TIP

Run a lifecycle audit on every new BOM before finalizing. Navigate to the BOM, click "Validate", and review the lifecycle summary. Addressing NRND and EOL components during the design phase is far cheaper than finding alternatives after production has started.

WARNING

Octopart/Nexar API data is refreshed periodically (default: every 24 hours for active components, weekly for inactive). For time-sensitive procurement decisions, click "Refresh Now" on the component detail page to pull the latest data. API rate limits apply based on your subscription tier.

TIP

Configure PCN email notifications for your engineering lead and procurement manager in Settings > Notifications > Components. PCN alerts include the affected BOM list, last-time-buy dates (if announced), and suggested alternatives -- enabling proactive action before supply disruptions.

TIP

Use the "Bulk Lifecycle Check" feature to scan your entire product catalog or a specific BOM for lifecycle risks. The output is a downloadable report sorted by risk severity (Obsolete first, then EOL, then NRND), which is useful for annual catalog reviews.

WARNING

Cross-reference alternatives are suggested based on electrical and physical compatibility, but they are not guaranteed to be drop-in replacements in every application. Always verify with your engineering team that the alternative meets the specific circuit requirements (thermal, timing, EMC) before substituting.

FAQ

Q: What is the Octopart/Nexar API and do I need a separate account? A: Octopart (now part of Nexar) is a global electronic component search engine that aggregates data from manufacturers and distributors. Tawridy integrates with the Nexar API. Your Tawridy subscription includes API access -- no separate Nexar account is needed.

Q: How often is component data updated? A: Active components linked to BOMs are refreshed every 24 hours. Components not linked to any BOM are refreshed weekly. You can trigger a manual refresh at any time from the component detail page.

Q: What happens when a PCN alert is triggered? A: The system creates an alert visible in Components > PCN Alerts and sends email notifications to configured recipients. The alert includes: the affected MPN, the nature of the change (e.g., package change, material change, discontinuation), affected BOMs, and suggested alternative components. Each alert must be explicitly acknowledged and resolved.

Q: Can I use the component lookup for non-electronics items? A: The Octopart/Nexar integration is specifically for electronic components. For non-electronics items (mechanical, construction, general), use the standard Products module catalog and manual supplier mapping.

Q: How accurate are the cross-reference suggestions? A: Cross-references are sourced from manufacturer equivalency databases and Nexar's parametric matching engine. Accuracy is high for standard components (voltage regulators, passives, common ICs) but should always be verified by an engineer for application-specific requirements.