COG announces conference dates

The event is the electronics industry's opportunity to discuss obsolescence and maintainability issues, including counterfeiting, and combines a two-day conference and exhibition with a one-day workshop and a gala dinner.

Delegates from North America, Europe and Asia are expected to attend, representing every stage of the supply chain across a range of industry sectors.

Ian Blackman, chief executive officer of the COG (Component Obsolescence Group), said: 'Significantly shorter component lifecycles, the growing threat from counterfeiting and legislation such as REACH and RoHS, as well as the impact of the global downturn, mean that obsolescence is a real and everyday threat for companies within every sector.

'The COG International Conference provides an opportunity to share knowledge and discuss ways in which the global electronics community and government organisations can mitigate this threat.' The three-day event will begin with a workshop on 'Managing Obsolescence in Legacy Equipment' followed by an evening reception for delegates on 29 June.

Two days of presentations will provide in-depth analysis of a range of topical obsolescence issues, including counterfeiting, from leading industry figures in the manufacturing, distribution and service sectors as well as from government organisations the Ministry of Defence, UKEA and IECQ.

A gala dinner, held in the 16th-century dining hall of St John's College, Cambridge on 30 June will feature Everest climber Ian Woodall as the guest speaker, presenting 'The Tao of Everest - The Lighter Side'.

CMCA (UK), the obsolescence management-tools and services provider, will be the conference's main sponsor.