Planning for a China product being discontinued
Get a written discontinuation notice, separate production demand from service demand, and size the final order against usable stock and replacement readiness. Reserve repair stock and approve substitutes before switching. Factory notice checks and replacement sourcing can be supported by Cambridge China Bridge.
Turn the last-order notice into a decision record
Ask for a written notice identifying affected part codes, revisions and variants, the last order acceptance date, final shipment date and what support remains afterwards. Establish whether the factory is stopping the finished product, an upstream component or the production process. Ask it to confirm which accepted orders remain scheduled and whether the proposed replacement is already in production.
Before the deadline, obtain written confirmation of available capacity, materials, order amendment terms and any staged deliveries. Name a buyer-side owner for the decision. For bespoke parts, record the location and condition of tooling, drawings and retained samples, and agree access arrangements. Keep the original notice and subsequent changes together.
Calculate remaining demand without buying the whole forecast
Build a demand sheet by affected revision. Separate committed customer orders, expected sales until the replacement is approved, and repair or service demand afterwards. Subtract usable stock and confirmed incoming goods allocated to those needs. Exclude quarantined stock, incompatible revisions and stock already promised elsewhere. The forecast and firm-order guide helps separate planning assumptions from purchase commitments.
Compare a smooth transition with delayed qualification and weaker sales. Use installed equipment records, return history and customer support commitments to estimate service demand; record uncertain assumptions separately. Compare the final buy with storage suitability, shelf life, deterioration, cash tied up and potential unused stock. Refresh the calculation when replacement approval or demand changes.
Protect service support separately from new sales
Review customer contracts, warranty promises and maintenance arrangements by product family. Record the support promised, who delivers it, the parts and repair information needed, and the proposed response if a repair cannot be completed. For consumer sales, GOV.UK explains that repair or replacement duties may continue after a warranty or guarantee expires. Do not use warranty expiry alone as the end of your support planning.
Reserve service stock separately so routine sales do not consume it. Agree storage, periodic condition checks, access to diagnostic tools and repair instructions, and who can release reserved parts. Plan assemblies and accessories needed to make repairs work, rather than stocking only the discontinued component. Use the spare-parts support guide for the wider equipment support brief.
Qualify the replacement for the actual application
Treat a factory's replacement suggestion as a candidate. Prepare a comparison showing differences in fit, interfaces, materials, performance, software and repair method. Test it in the actual assembly and intended use, including compatibility with products already supplied. A matching photograph or connector does not establish interchangeability. Follow the supplier qualification guide for the supplier and pilot approval process.
For regulated goods, obtain test reports, declarations and traceability for the actual replacement configuration, as described in that guide. Ask your compliance owner to assess what changed and which evidence needs refreshing. Record any installation kit, instruction change or customer approval needed. Release the replacement only after the buyer's technical and quality owners accept the evidence and remaining limitations.
Control the final batch and the switch
Make the final order identify the approved revision, agreed quantity, inspection criteria, delivery schedule and supporting documents. Ask the factory to flag material shortages before using substitutes. Keep old and replacement stock identifiable in purchasing, warehouse and service records. The batch traceability guide supports the record trail; add a clear rule for which product revisions can receive each part.
Set the switch date against approval evidence and stock availability. Tell affected customers what changes, what remains compatible and how service requests will be handled. Keep a decision log covering the final buy, reserved service stock, replacement approval and unresolved risks. Cambridge China Bridge can use its staff in China to check the factory notice, remaining production arrangements and replacement sourcing brief; the buyer retains approval.
Frequently asked questions
What should a factory discontinuation notice include?
Ask for affected part codes and revisions, last order acceptance and final shipment dates, the status of accepted orders, remaining support and proposed replacements. Get changes confirmed in writing.
How much should I buy in the final order?
Combine remaining production and service demand, then subtract usable allocated stock and confirmed incoming supply. Compare delayed replacement approval with weaker sales before committing.
Can I stop support when the warranty ends?
Review your customer commitments separately. For consumer sales, repair or replacement duties may continue after warranty expiry. Keep service demand separate from ordinary sales demand.
Can I use the factory's suggested replacement straight away?
Treat it as a candidate. Compare the revisions, test it in the actual application, review relevant compliance evidence and obtain buyer approval before releasing it for production or repairs.