Debunking myths in electronics repair
October 2024
Debunking myths in electronics repair and maintenance—this new article tackles misconceptions and sheds light on the real benefits of repairing over replacing. Don’t miss this eye-opening read!
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Myth Busting Repair Day Podcast by Repair Don't Waste
Today is International Repair Day, a day to celebrate the art of repair and highlight the issues that’s been growing beneath the surface, our increasing dependence on electronics in some of the most critical industries—defence, automotive, aviation, rail, energy, and semiconductor manufacturing.
Over the past 20 years, we’ve seen these sectors transition from mechanical systems to highly automated and complex electronic setups. And while the technology boom has unlocked new possibilities, it has also created a throw-away society of E-waste, where companies are convinced it’s cheaper and easier to replace equipment rather than repair it, an idea heavily sold by manufacturers eager to push the latest equipment.
But here’s the catch, more electronics means more reliance on OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers). And with obsolescence now an unavoidable reality, businesses are left stranded when parts are no longer in production, forcing them to undertake costly and unnecessary upgrades of entire systems or buy new machines just to stay afloat. That wasn’t a problem in the past, when mechanical parts could be easily fabricated on demand.
The 2008 economic crisis made companies realise this as they took a hard look at their maintenance budgets and realised just how much money was being wasted on unnecessary replacements. Yet, despite this shift, another challenge has become apparent, skilled repair technicians, who know how to troubleshoot and repair electronics are retiring or leaving the industry and the lack of formal education options mean fewer young engineers are being trained as replacement.
With fewer hands in the repair game, misinformation has been spreading. Myths have grown about the risks and viability of repairs, creating a stigma around the idea that repairing is unreliable or impractical. But these myths couldn’t be further from the truth, and we’re here to set the record straight.
In today’s episode, we’ll unpack the state of electronic repairs across industries, expose the myths, and explore the emerging technologies shaping the future of maintenance. Repair isn’t just possible, it’s essential and it’s time to challenge outdated thinking and equip industries with the tools and knowledge to embrace repair culture once again.
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