As the new product becomes predominant, there are fewer parts available to fix the earlier versions and the technology becomes outdated.
According to EIA-724, there are 6 distinct phases of a product's life cycle: Introduction, Growth, Maturity, Saturation, Decline, and Phase-Out.
"Saturation" refers to a state in the product's life cycle where sales have leveled off and, towards the end of this phase, first begin to decline.
The term "Saturation" is confusing to many and can be explained in reference to its equivalent in chemistry where a substance can no longer be dissolved in a liquid.
Direct contact takes the form of phone, e-mail or other communication with a competent supplier representative.
[4] One strategy used to combat DMS is to buy additional inventory during the production run of a system or part, in quantities sufficient to cover the expected number of failures.
Long range planning must occur for every key piece of equipment, establishing "when" and "what" parts will be replaced or redesigned.
There are also companies out there giving assistance and consult in seminars and workshops, audits and implementation of effective DMSMS processes.