A strong AVL qualifies at least two alternates for every high-risk component during the design phase and documents them in the BOM, rather than waiting until a shortage hits. Review it annually, since parts that were once easy to get can become scarce.
- For every high-risk component, identify at least 2 qualified alternates during design phase
- Document AVL in your BOM — do not wait until a shortage hits to qualify alternates
- Avoid components with ‘authorized distributor only’ restrictions unless the authorized channel is confirmed deep and reliable
- Review your AVL annually — components that were readily available can become scarce