Last-Time Buy and End-of-Life (EOL) in Spare Parts Data
Last-time buy is the window before a part is discontinued. End-of-life is the point after which the manufacturer no longer produces or supports it. This glossary entry covers the timeline, what the catalog needs to show, and the data fields that support both.
Last-time buy (LTB) is the window before a part is discontinued — the manufacturer announces a deadline for placing a final order. End-of-life (EOL) is the point after which the manufacturer no longer produces or supports the part. In catalog data, both need to be tracked as lifecycle events with dates, sources and successor links.
The timeline runs: active → last-time buy announced → LTB window closes → end-of-life → discontinued (possibly with a successor via supersession, possibly not). Each stage needs a different response from the catalog.
The lifecycle timeline
| Stage | What it means | What the catalog should do |
|---|---|---|
| Active | Part is in production and orderable | Show as available |
| LTB announced | Manufacturer has announced a last-time buy date | Alert customers and procurement; show the LTB deadline and any known successor |
| LTB window open | Orders can still be placed, but production will stop after the deadline | Show countdown or deadline; encourage stocking decisions |
| LTB window closed | No more orders accepted by the manufacturer | Remove ordering for new-from-manufacturer; show successor if one exists |
| End-of-life | Manufacturer no longer produces or supports the part | Mark as discontinued; resolve to successor; consider page strategy per the discontinued-parts guide |
| NLA (no longer available) | Part cannot be sourced from any channel | Mark as NLA; show successor or 'no replacement available' |
What the catalog record needs
| Field | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Current lifecycle status | Active, LTB announced, LTB open, discontinued, NLA |
| LTB date | The deadline for placing a final order (if applicable) |
| EOL date | The date the manufacturer declared end-of-life |
| Source | The manufacturer notice, bulletin or communication that announced the change |
| Successor part ID | The replacement part, if one exists (linked via REPLACED_BY) |
| Notes | Any additional context: remaining stock quantities, last-time buy pricing, transition guidance |
Where Claro fits
Claro tracks lifecycle status changes as events on the product identity record. When a manufacturer announces a last-time buy or end-of-life, the status change is recorded with the date, source and any successor link. The catalog can then show the appropriate messaging at each stage — from “order before [date]” through “replaced by [successor]” — without manual page updates.
Related
Glossary
Spare Parts Data Glossary
All spare-parts data terms in one table.
Glossary
What is supersession?
When a manufacturer replaces one part number with another.
Glossary
NLA (no longer available)
The final status: not sourceable from any channel.
Guide
Discontinued parts: keep, redirect or remove
Page strategy for discontinued part pages.
FAQ
What is a last-time buy?
A last-time buy (LTB) is a window — announced by the manufacturer — during which a part can still be ordered before production stops. After the window closes, the part is no longer manufactured. The LTB date is the deadline for placing a final order.
What is the difference between end-of-life and discontinued?
End-of-life (EOL) is the manufacturer’s formal declaration that a product will no longer be produced or supported. Discontinued is the status after EOL takes effect: the part is no longer manufactured. EOL is an announcement with a future date; discontinued is a current state. Some manufacturers use the terms interchangeably.
Claro
See how Claro handles this in production
This concept is one piece of keeping a catalog trusted. See how Claro resolves identity, enriches missing attributes, and validates every update before it reaches your PIM or ERP.
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