Frequently Asked Questions

• What is COG?
  o COG is a special interest group concerned with obsolescence management and financed by subscription. Members are companies or organisations concerned with the problem of obsolescence.
  
  
• Where is it based?
  o The main contact address is in the UK, see the Contact page. There is also a German sub-group – see www.cog-d.de
   
• How do I join COG?
  o You can either complete the application form or join on-line at www.cog.org.uk or www.cog-d.de. Application forms are available from the COG Office or can be downloaded in PDF format from the web sites.
  
  
• I forgot my membership password – what do I do?
  o Please contact admin@cog.org.uk .
  
  
• How long can I use the Members Pages when I am logged in?
  o If your computer is set up to accept cookies then you will stay logged in for 9 hours so you can use the Members pages throughout the working day. At some sensitive sites, cookies are not enabled for security reasons.  In this case the log-in is controlled by a session variable and you will stay logged in for 30 minutes only.
  
  
• How do I source difficult to find components?
  o COG has an E-mail ListServer which enables members to broadcast e-mails to the whole membership. This is often used for the sourcing of components. Replies are usually received in 1-2 hours from suppliers or OEMs. COG Supplier Members can supply a wide range of components and further details can be found in the Solution provider section of the web site.
  
  
• What is pro-active obsolescence management?
  o Most companies deal with obsolescence in a reactive way where they suddenly find that a component is not available. COG promotes pro active management where tools and procedures are put in place which monitor the life cycle of components and aim to have as much information as possible available on their bill of materials. In this way less surprises are received and cost savings can be made in the longer term.
  
  
• Can I come to a COG Meeting?
  o If you are a member then all COG meetings are available to you. Quarterly meetings are included in the subscription. Your COG membership entitles you to send two attendees from your company site to Quarterly Meetings. If you wish to send more please contact the COG Office. Reduced delegates fees are available for COG members for Workshops and Conferences. If you are a Non-member and would like to attend a meeting as a guest with a view to joining, contact should be made with the COG Office.
  
  
• Is COG just a UK forum?
  o COG was founded in the UK in 1997, but since that time several overseas companies in the USA, mainland Europe and elsewhere have joined. A sub-group of COG has been founded in Germany.
  
  
• When is your next international conference?
  o The next international conference is in 2011. Further details will be available later. The proceedings of the 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009 Conferences are available on CD-ROM from the COG Shop.
  
  
• Does COG provide training for obsolescence management?
  o Yes COG has a series of training courses held throughout the year in the UK. Further details can be found on the Workshops page. Training courses in Germany are being planned. Further details will be on the www.cog-d.de.
  
  
• How do I network with other industry professionals?
  o There are excellent networking opportunities at all COG events and especially at Quarterly Meetings.
  
  
• How do I access the presentations on the Data Menu?
  o The databases and presentations available on the web site are available to members through password access. Non-members can see the index of presentations for the last 4-5 years but need to join to access the full presentations in PDF format.
  
  
• What are Obsolescence Software Tools?
  o Obsolescence Management Tools of various kinds are available from different suppliers in the UK and the USA. These tools can monitor the life cycle of components, inform about last time buys, provide product change notices, provide access to data sheets and many other functions to assist the management of obsolescence.
  
  
• What developments are being made in Standardization of Obsolescence?
  o Standardization of various aspects of Obsolescence Management is taking place at national and international level. The British Standards Institution has set up Technical Committee OS/1 – Obsolescence which is dealing with a revision of BS 7000 Part 5 – Guide to managing obsolescence. The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is also preparing standards on various Technical Committees concerned with Semiconductors, Dependability and Avionics.
  
  
• Who is the COG Webmaster?
  o The COG Webmaster is Ian Blackman based at the COG Office.
  
  
• How do I get my company on the Solution providers page?
  o You need to be a COG member. Then apply to the COG Office.
  
  
• How do I get a location map for the next meeting?
  o Location map are often sent out to the membership with agenda for meetings. They are also links to location maps on the home page of the web sites and in the Notices members pages.
  
  
• Where are the presentations at COG meetings located on the Web Site?
  o Presentations are indexed on the 'Info' button. They are also attached to the minutes of meetings on the Events button.
  
  
• Can I find the new name of a company that has merged?
  o COG provides a database for members called “Who are they now?”. It enables company name changes to be tracked.
  
  
• What is a Last Time Buy?
  o If a component manufacturer finds it is uneconomic to continue the manufacture of a component, they will often issue a last time buy notice. This indicates that the component’s manufacture will soon cease and that there is a limited timeframe in which to buy components. If a component on last time buy is an essential part of equipment then one way forward is to buy components in bulk to cover the future maintenance.
  
  
• How can I get a copy of 'The Obsolescence Minefield'?
  o This basic guide to managing obsolescence is available from the address below. It is free of charge to COG members and can be downloaded by them from web site.
  
  
• Are the CD-ROMs from Training Courses available?
  o Yes while stocks last. They can be obtained from the COG Office.
  
  
• Are the proceedings of the COG Conferences available?
  o Yes the proceedings of COG Conferences are available in hard copy and on CD-ROM from the COG Shop.
  
  
• Any other questions?
  o Please use the Infopoint