Manager, Product Obsolescence

Who We Are: 

Ever wonder who brings the entertainment to your flights? Panasonic Avionics Corporation is #1 in the industry for delivering inflight products such as movies, games, Wi-Fi, and now Bluetooth headphone connectivity! 

How exciting would it be to be a part of the innovation that goes into creating technology that delights millions of people in an industry that’s here to stay! With our company’s history spanning over 40 years, you will have stability, career growth opportunities, and will work with the brightest minds in the industry. If you want to learn more about us, visit us at www.panasonic.aero. And for a full listing of open job opportunities go to https://careers.na.panasonic.com/avionics/jobs.

The Position:

The Manager, Product Obsolescence will manage product obsolescence activities, including assigned staff related to these activities, for In Flight Entertainment (IFE) products in partnership with Product Management and cross-functional stakeholders. Provide organizational leadership related to obsolescence avoidance and mitigation for both new and existing products across multiple teams. Partner with Product Management on product lifecycle management activities, ensuring obsolescence risks, mitigation plans, and sustaining strategies are incorporated into lifecycle planning and communicated effectively to internal and external stakeholders.

Product Obsolescence Risk Management:

• Perform detailed and persistent analysis of the entirety of existing products and product lines to determine risks related to continued support of product vs. our commitments to the industry and our customers. Define and execute internal communications plans to ensure organizational understanding of these risks on a routine and consistent basis. Work with appropriate internal departments to define consistent strategy and contract language for product support requirements and/or PAC commitments for all customer and supplier contracts.
• Chair and direct Obsolescence Review Board meetings for all IFE product obsolescence issues. Ensure proper assignment and timely management of LRU obsolescence projects with IFE Product Managers. Provide guidance and leadership in determination and execution of LRU-specific obsolescence projects with stakeholders and key departments. Ensure directly, or through delegation to Product Managers/Planners, effective, consistent and timely communications of said strategies to all concerned parties, both internal and external.
• Perform detailed analysis to arrive at obsolescence mitigation recommendations and present to executive management (bridge buy, redesign, last time buy, etc.).
• Define and implement product sustaining strategies through repair initiatives, broker market purchasing and component testing, and product roadmap planning.
• Participate in and guide component selection for new IFE LRU development to mitigate obsolescence exposure related to components used in our products. Where and when high-risk components are selected due to necessity, ensure effective communication of this risk to affected parties.
• Perform BOM analysis for all LRUs during development cycle.
• Perform comprehensive “Obsolescence Health Checks” for specific customer fleets and provide recommendations for obsolescence mitigation.

Tools Development & Communication (IT):

• Work with all relative parties to develop tools/data systems to provide a comprehensive, accurate and actionable assessment of PAC’s obsolescence exposure for new and existing products. Use this information to educate all parties as well as to drive effective decisions related to product sustaining activities and budgets over the entire lifecycle of all IFE products, from pre-development through end-of-life.
• Partner with Product Management to ensure product lifecycle plans for new IFE products are developed, thorough, and broadly communicated to all affected parties. Participate in and support continuous improvement of the Product Lifecycle Management process and policy, with emphasis on identifying obsolescence risks, reducing costs, gaining efficiency, reducing errors, and improving customer satisfaction with PAC’s lifecycle management activities.
• Analyze, or participate in the analysis of (if led by others) all IFE LRU component repair activity and reliability data for existing, fielded product. Compare this analysis with supply chain experts and review plans/methods for adequate sourcing of components for sustaining LRU support.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive toolset capable of tracking KPIs related to last time buys and bridge buys, and provide early warnings for any potential component shortages.

Supply Chain Assurance (Components):

• Work with appropriate departments to devise methods and policy to ensure accurate, proactive and efficient component procurement from suppliers in a manner so as to eliminate, or largely mitigate emergency redesigns related to non-stock component issues. Further, work with same team to define a system to monitor stock-on-hand vs. planned consumption to reliably identify deviations from plan, thus providing more predictable re-design demand.
• Assist in the development of test plans for broker market component purchases.

Supervisory

• Hire, train, develop, and appraise direct staff.

The salary range of $119,000 - $199,000 is just one component of Panasonic’s total package. The final offer amount may vary based on factors including but not limited to individual’s knowledge, skills, experience, and location. In addition, this role may be eligible for discretionary bonuses and incentives.

What we're looking for: 

• Minimum of 8 years’ experience in Product Management/Hardware Engineering, or a related position requiring similar skills.
  Experience with obsolescence mitigation strategies and lifecycle management procedures highly desirable.
• 5 years experience in aerospace, technical airline operations, IFE or related industry experience such as networking or consumer electronics preferred.
• Strong knowledge of product obsolescence management and the ability to partner with Product Management on product/system lifecycle management activities.
• Detailed understanding of product design/build process including, cost management, manufacturing planning, bill-of-materials analysis and drawing trees.
• Thorough knowledge of components of supply chain and methods to assess obsolescence risk factors
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with suppliers, customers and a diverse range of internal organizations via all methods of communication.
• Extensive work experience with IFE, avionics, or other aircraft related products.
• Knowledge of data systems and IT development of database/forms/tools for use in data analytics
• Experience supporting complex product requirements and development schedules, cost and pricing issues, and commitment control/communication.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills.
• Ability to effectively participate in and manage meetings with internal groups and/or suppliers (3rd Party) providing detailed product expertise and project guidance.
• Possess strong cross-functional leadership skills. Ability to read situations and apply diplomacy and tact to obtain desired and optimal outcomes from direct reports as well as other contributors.
• Proficiency in desktop applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio, Project).
• Experience resolving complex issues in creative and effective ways through detailed analysis of situation/data.
• Experience defining methods and procedures for complex procedures or problems.
• Uses independent judgment to ensure projects/assignments are completed accurately and on-time
• Team management skills.
• Ability to mentor and develop assigned staff.
• May require up to 15% domestic and/or international travel.

• At Panasonic Avionics Corporation we realize the most important aspects in leading our industry are the bright minds behind everything we do. We are proud to offer our employees a highly competitive, comprehensive and flexible benefits program.  
• Paid time off: Exempt Salaried employees receive flexible paid time off. This means that there is no fixed number, range, or limit to the amount of Personal and Vacation Days that may be taken for exempt employees. Non-exempt hourly employees accrue 14 vacation days per year + 7 sick days + 3 personal days. Accrual rate increases with tenure. All employees receive 11 company paid holidays per year. We also close our offices at the corporate level in the U.S. between Christmas and New Year. For operational positions that are expected to work on holidays, we provide additional compensation for hours worked.  
• Health Insurance: Medical insurance offerings from Aetna and Kaiser (CA &HI). Options for Employee Only, Employee + Spouse/Domestic Partner, Employee + Children, or Family. Dental PPO and DMO options & Vision insurance through EyeMed or VSP.   
• 401K with 50% match on up to 8% contribution, full vested from day 1. 
• Washington residents only are eligible for: Washington’s Family and Medical Leave program and Washington’s Paid Sick Leave program. 
• Other offerings include: Wellness Program, Counseling services, FSA & HSA, Life Insurance for employee, spouse and child, AD&D Insurance, Long-term and Short-term disability, Critical Illness Insurance, Accident Insurance, Legal Assistance, Pet Insurance, Identity Theft Protection, Dependent Care FLSA, Education Assistance, Commuter Program, Employee Purchase Program, Service Award Program.