4DOnline Parts Universe
Parts Universe: One Source for Millions of Parts
IHS Parts Universe gives users online access to more than 14 million electronics parts and components in over 350 categories from more than 200 manufacturers worldwide. Designers, engineers, and maintenance and procurement professionals save time and improve electronics parts evaluations and comparisons with Parts Universe. Parts Universe enables you to effectively manage parts obsolescence and end of life issues by providing you with comprehensive information and an easy-to-use interface.
Parts Universe is a strategic tool that helps you
- Minimize redesign efforts and costs
- Saves valuable research time
- Reduce material costs
Fast Facts on 4DOnline Parts Universe |
Through strategic relationships with hundreds of manufacturers, IHS developed and maintains the Electronics Database. The Electronics Database is the foundation of Parts Universe. You receive quality, comprehensive information regarding electronics parts through the Parts Universe.
Obsolescence and Lifecycle Data
Predicting obsolescence concerns during design can avoid future costs associated with extended maintenance or supply issues. Lifecycle data, alert notices, lifetime buy information and predicted years to end of life enable you to identify obsolescence issues and predict future redesign needs. In Parts Universe, parts are noted as being introduced, phased-out or already discontinued. Product change notices are input to Parts Universe along with the date of the notice so that you can plan for design changes. Last date to buy and last date to deliver dates are included so that you aren’t caught by surprise during maintenance and operations.
With the large number of manufacturers and suppliers for electronics parts and components, researching parts can take a significant amount of time. When you consider the complexities of environmental compliance and limitations for alternate parts, the research task becomes even more complicated. Parts Universe provides flexible search and display formats to simplify the research process.
Easily Search and Compare
There are four Basic Search criteria -- part number, manufacturer, part description and part status. IHS Parts Universe allows you to search for parts with as little or as much information as you know. The search options let you enter a minimum amount of information for broad results or narrow your results based on specific information.
With the Parts Universe Advanced Search, you can also perform searches based on a variety of attributes specific to the part you are researching. You select the attributes necessary for your part such as orientation or mounting requirements. Parts Universe pulls up all the parts that meet those criteria. Then you can compare parts meeting those criteria side-by-side to make final part selection decisions. Research time during design or maintenance phases is minimized by putting detailed information at your fingertips.
Side-by-Side Comparison Saves Time
Parts Universe allows you to sort by row or column and specify the information provided in the results. Parts Universe lets you compare multiple parts side-by-side based on the information most important to you. This flexibility saves time when there are many part manufacturers available. You’ll also be able to quickly see if a specified part is available from a single source increasing the risk of supply issues and future maintenance problems.
Manage Parts Inventory
Having access to information such as multiple sources, lifecycle data, predicted last date to buy and predicted years to end of life improves your ability to effectively manage your parts inventory. Parts Universe provides current information in all these areas for parts included in the Electronics Database. Data is input and updated using ISO registered processes and procedures. You can rely on the information provided in Parts Universe to be accurate and complete.
Knowing in advance that a particular part from a manufacturer will be discontinued allows you to add to approved vendors lists and approved materials list. This not only simplifies the process but likely reduces costs since you have time to negotiate and shop around among potential sources.
Environmental Compliance Made Easy
Now that hazardous materials requirements are in place for electronics sold in Europe and are either being considered or already in place in other parts of the world, detailed materials information is necessary for environmental compliance. IHS Parts Universe includes necessary critical environmental compliance information. You’ll be able to address RoHS compliance and other hazardous material concerns by using the JESD-97 codes, RoHS yes/no data, and substance concentration and weight data provided. Having this information available at the start of design shortens component selection time by eliminating the need to contact manufacturers or conduct research yourself.
Alternate Part Search Saves Time
Maintenance crises can be averted by mapping component life expectancy to the lifecycle stage of the parts. This capability minimizes redesign efforts and costs since you can react quickly to obsolescence or supply chain shortages. The Parts Universe alternate part search capability is easy to use and versatile. Simply designate that you want alternate parts based on equivalency, upgrade, downgrade, form/fit/function or functional criteria. Parts Universe delivers detailed information on alternate parts including which of the alternate criteria the part meets.
Combining Parts Universe with other 4DOline products, BOM Optimizer and Parts Universe Materials Analysis tools, gives you a comprehensive parts selection and management system that truly saves time.