Manager, Product Obsolescence

About Us

Panasonic Avionics Corporation is the industry leader in delivering inflight entertainment products such as movies, games, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth headphone connectivity. With over 40 years of history, we offer stability, career growth opportunities, and collaboration with bright minds in the industry.

Responsibilities

• Manage product obsolescence activities, including assigned staff, 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.

Product Obsolescence Risk Management

• Perform detailed and persistent analysis of existing products and product lines to determine risks related to continued support versus commitments to the industry and customers.
• Define and execute internal communications plans to ensure organizational understanding of these risks routinely.
• Work with internal departments to define consistent strategy and contract language for product support requirements and PAC commitments.
• 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.
• Ensure effective, consistent, and timely communications of 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, component testing, and product roadmap planning.
• Participate in and guide component selection for new IFE LRU development to mitigate obsolescence exposure.
• Ensure effective communication of high-risk component selection to affected parties.
• Perform BOM analysis for all LRUs during the development cycle.
• Perform comprehensive "Obsolescence Health Checks" for specific customer fleets and provide recommendations for obsolescence mitigation.

Tools Development & Communication (IT)

• 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 and drive effective decisions related to product sustaining activities and budgets.
• Partner with Product Management to ensure thorough and broadly communicated product lifecycle plans for new IFE products.
• Participate in and support continuous improvement of the Product Lifecycle Management process and policy.
• Analyze IFE LRU component repair activity and reliability data for existing, fielded products.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive toolset for tracking KPIs related to last time buys and bridge buys, providing early warnings for potential component shortages.

Supply Chain Assurance (Components)

• Work with appropriate departments to devise methods and policy for accurate, proactive, and efficient component procurement.
• Define a system to monitor stock-on-hand vs. planned consumption to identify deviations from the plan.
• Assist in the development of test plans for broker market component purchases.

Supervisory

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

Requirements

• 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 of experience in aerospace, technical airline operations, IFE, or related industry such as networking or consumer electronics preferred.
• Strong knowledge of product obsolescence management and ability to partner with Product Management on 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 diverse internal organizations.
• Extensive work experience with IFE, avionics, or other aircraft-related products.
• Knowledge of data systems and IT development of database/forms/tools for data analytics.
• Experience supporting complex product requirements and development schedules, cost and pricing issues, and commitment control/communication.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to effectively participate in and manage meetings with internal groups and/or suppliers.
• Strong cross-functional leadership skills.
• Proficiency in desktop applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio, Project).
• Experience resolving complex issues in creative and effective ways through detailed analysis.
• Experience defining methods and procedures for complex problems.
• Uses independent judgment to ensure projects/assignments are completed accurately and on-time.
• Team management skills and ability to mentor and develop assigned staff.
• May require up to 15% domestic and/or international travel.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off: Exempt salaried employees receive flexible paid time off. Non-exempt hourly employees accrue 14 vacation days, 7 sick days, and 3 personal days per year. All employees receive 11 company-paid holidays and offices close between Christmas and New Year.
• 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: 50% match on up to 8% contribution, fully vested from day 1.
• Additional Benefits: Wellness Program, Counseling services, FSA & HSA, Life Insurance, 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.
• Washington residents are eligible for Washington’s Family and Medical Leave program and Washington’s Paid Sick Leave program.

Pay

The salary range for this role is $119,000 - $199,000. The final offer amount may vary based on factors including knowledge, skills, experience, and location. This role may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses and incentives.