Q: Can you please explain the issues around the shelf life of Spare Parts?
A: Shelf life is specifically related to the spare part and its storage – there is no one-size-fits-all answer. For example, bearing suppliers will typically advise that bearings will only be reliable for up to 5 years if stored on their side and in their original packaging – longer than that or with different storage and they may not be reliable. You can find guidelines for some common items here https://sparepartsknowhow.com/resource-center/storeroom-and-spare-parts-maintenance/ (at the bottom of the page) but my suggestion is that you ask specific suppliers about the shelf life of their parts.
You will also need to see if your spare parts management system can record ‘use by’ dates for items and identify those that are coming up to their ‘use-by’ date.
Our Obsolescence Risk Calculator can provide guidance on where risks might exist and where further investigation or planning may be needed.