Abstracts

Call for Abstracts

Now Accepting Submissions!

  Important Dates

Abstract Submission Deadline:   Dec 22
Abstract Notification:   Jan 23
Speaker Registration Deadline:   April 6
Final Presentation Submitted:   April 6

The Symposium Planning Team invites you to submit an abstract for presentation at the 2026 IIOM International Symposium around the theme of The Obsolescence Management of Tomorrow: People, Technology, Strategy, and Innovation. The general rules for submitting abstracts are listed here. Abstract submissions will be accepted through December 22.

You may submit your abstract as a technical presentation or as a research poster that is to be presented during the Tuesday night Evening Reception event. Please click on the track topics listed below to thoroughly review the requirements of each track and determine which track the abstract best fits. Abstracts should be 250-400 words in length. Abstract submissions will not be accepted outside of the submission link. Submitted abstracts will be rated based on clarity, value added to the IIOM Symposium, and how well the topic fits within the symposium program. Abstracts should be public releasable and contain no proprietary information. Please note that the Symposium planning team may determine that an abstract best fits in a track other than what was originally selected by the author.

Selected presenters will be contacted by January 23 and the draft presentation in Microsoft PowerPoint format will be required by April 6. Upon acceptance of your presentation, you will be requested to submit final presentation materials to ARCTOS in electronic format via the IIOM Symposium website using the Microsoft Office family of applications (PowerPoint preferred method). Minor revisions submitted after that date will be considered but may not be included in the Symposium materials. This will facilitate the preparation of Symposium proceedings. Once you receive an acceptance letter you will be provided with additional instructions for your presentation preparation and additional information for speakers.

Please make sure you read and understand the rules before submission.

Abstract Session Topics

Do not attempt to submit abstracts through any other means. Submitted abstracts will be rated based on clarity, value added to the symposium, and how well the topic fits within the track. Abstracts should be public-releasable and contain no proprietary information. Please note that the symposium planning team may determine that an abstract or panel/training proposal best fits in a session or workshop other that what was originally selected by the author. Government, industry, and academia are encouraged to participate. Be sure to submit abstracts within the appropriate session that most fits your topic using the links on this page. Abstracts should be 250-400 words in length. Abstract submissions will be accepted through December 22.

Listed below are the conference subthemes for more detailed information.

People
Technology
Strategy
Innovation

  • People

    The human dimension of obsolescence management is often overlooked, but it is the foundation for success. This subtheme explores the roles, competencies, collaboration, and mindsets required for the next generation of obsolescence managers and supply chain professionals. We invite papers that explore but not limited to:


    • Developing technical and cross-disciplinary knowledge to manage obsolescence in complex systems.

    • Leveraging teamwork across the supply base, industries, governments, and international borders to share data, best practices, and lessons learned.

    • Mentorship or knowledge-sharing programs between large system integrators and their Tier 2 and 3 suppliers

    • Training programs, certifications, and academic partnerships to prepare the next generation of specialists

    • Building Communities of Practice in Obsolescence Management

    • How soft skills (communication, negotiation, systems thinking) are as critical as technical knowledge

    • Best practice customer and supplier working group teams



  • Technology

    Technology plays a key part of obsolescence management from the tools that we use to the technologies and materials we monitor, produce, sustain, and ultimately replace. This subtheme explores best practices in technology management, material management, tracking software and hardware dependencies, forecasting obsolescence for all technology and item types, and incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into the tools that we use. We invite papers that explore but not limited to:


    • Incorporating machine learning into obsolescence management activities

    • Integration of hardware and software obsolescence dependencies in analysis and resolution decision making

    • Digital-Twin enabled parts lifecycle management

    • Controlling software Bills of Material (SBOM) to enable resilient designs

    • Forecasting obsolescence using predictive analysis for all types of items (not just electrical)

    • Synergy of systems engineering and parts and materials management

    • Legislation restricting material use, and its impact on sustainability and forecasting

    • Restricted material compliance and obsolescence management

    • Parts and materials management review boards

    • Leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to build obsolescence management dashboards


  • Strategy

    This subtheme focuses on leveraging various strategies and having a strategic mindset to achieve certain goals, normally trying to sustain our systems for the life of the need while minimizing the total cost of ownership. These strategies can be employed during all phases of an item’s lifecycle: during system design, product and supplier selections, working with supply chain, within our regular obsolescence analysis, business decisions, and in identifying the right time to refresh, We invite papers that explore but not limited to:


    • Obsolescence management as a strategy of business development

    • Consideration of life cycle impacts in designs, product selections, and resolutions

    • Business case analysis (BCA) justification and return on investment (ROI) calculations for technology refresh

    • Life Cycle Cost calculations incorporating obsolescence management resolutions

    • Designing a system for successful obsolescence management

    • Obsolescence monitoring and treatment as a component of life cycle cost

    • Supply chain strategies to sustain systems longer

    • Business‑case‑driven “obsolescence management as a growth engine”

    • Embedding obsolescence considerations early in the architecture

    • Case studies where obsolescence was not managed, and the consequences


  • Innovation

    This session focuses on new innovative methodologies towards advancing the science of obsolescence management. This subtheme explores new innovative research and process improvements that innovate new ways to manage obsolescence, demonstrate value to management and stakeholders, novel approaches to working with suppliers, and managing supply chain risk. We invite papers that explore but not limited to:


    • Advances in metrics tracking, reporting, and showing the benefits of being proactive and strategic

    • Impact calculations to schedule and reputation for justifying proactive obsolescence management

    • Novel improvements in contracted obsolescence management

    • Advances in automating the more manual processes within obsolescence management

    • Incorporation of supply chain illumination into obsolescence management

    • Supply chain risk management methods and applications to obsolescence management

    • Best practices establishing partnerships through mutual understanding and agreements

    • Integrated supply‑chain resilience planning with obsolescence management

    • Leveraging real-time obsolescence risk calculations to support obsolescence resolution decisions

    • Using robotic process automation (RPA) to monitor obsolescence or analyze obsolescence impacts


General Rules

IIOM seeks to promote and ensure a high standard of presentations. Therefore, you are gently requested to follow the following recommendations for the preparation of your abstracts. As you are addressing the community of obsolescence experts, there is no need to include any definition of very general concepts such as obsolescence, DMSMS, obsolescence management, etc. within both the abstract and your presentation, should your abstract be selected.

  Please ensure that you are approved to participate in the symposium (approved for travel and registration costs) before submitting an abstract

  Abstracts should include a concise description of the content, conclusions, and significance of the proposed presentation. If the author has presented similar information at previous conferences, then the abstract should clearly state what new results or information will be presented.

  Please limit the abstract to approximately 250-400 words and do not include the abstract authors or organization in the area labeled "Abstract" on the online submission form.

Presentation Selection

Submitted abstracts will be rated based on clarity, value added to the symposium, and how well the topic fits within the themes of the symposium. Please try to address the following points in your abstract to provide the evaluators a better idea of what you will present:

Problem

a. What problem does this work attempt to solve, to explain, to show, etc.

b. What is the scope of the project and the main arguments?

Reason for writing/ presenting your work:

a. What is the importance of this work/our solution/our project/etc.?

b. Why would an attendee be interested?

Implications, Conclusions, and Perspectives

a. How does this work add to the body of knowledge on Obsolescence management?

b. Do you have main findings? Are there any practical or theoretical applications from your findings or implications for future research?

Abstract notifications will be distributed If your abstract is selected for presentation at IIOM Symposium 2026, you will be requested to submit presentation materials to ARCTOS in electronic format no later than April 6. Upon acceptance of your abstract, specific instructions for technical preparation will be provided.


Requirements if Your Presentation is Selected

  • 50-100 word biography
  • Presentation received by April 6 in PowerPoint format
  • Each presenter must not exceed 22 minutes (allowing time for Q&A).
  • Presentations that are accepted must participate at the time scheduled by the Symposium Committee.
  • If your abstract is selected and you accept, you will be considered as an attending participant to the symposium and will be required to pay the presenter registration. Please make note of this when submitting your abstract.

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