COGD (Component Obsolescence Group Deutschland) e.V.

What COGD (Component Obsolescence Group Deutschland) e.V. does

COGD (Component Obsolescence Group Deutschland) e.V. is a German non-profit industry association founded in 2005 and headquartered in Radevormwald, focused on electronic component obsolescence management. It serves industrial OEMs, Tier-1 suppliers, operators, distributors, and service providers — primarily in the DACH region, with additional members in the Netherlands and France — by facilitating knowledge exchange on component lifecycle risk, last-time-buy strategy, and countermeasure planning. Member-facing activities include quarterly in-person meetings with curated presentations, member-only working groups (most recently WG17 on AI in obsolescence management), and an archive of more than two decades of case studies.

The association's principal technical contribution is the smartPCN specification for digital Product Change Notification (PCN) and Product Discontinuance Notification (PDN) exchange between component manufacturers and affected users; smartPCN version 3.0 was adopted in December 2017 as VDMA Guideline 24903, embedding the format within German industrial machinery standardization. COGD has been a licensed chapter of the International Institute of Obsolescence Management (IIOM) since 2015 and participates in the German national committee responsible for IEC 62402.

The business model is membership-funded. Companies pay an annual fee of €1,400 per participating location, generating a base of over 100 member organizations. Supplemental income is derived from non-member attendance at events, training offerings, and conference sponsorships. The association is governed by an elected board — refreshed in 2025 at the time of its 20th anniversary — and is preparing to co-host the IIOM International Conference in Munich in May 2027, signalling incremental internationalization of its convening role.

Name

COGD (Component Obsolescence Group Deutschland) e.V.

Legal name

COGD (Component Obsolescence Group Deutschland) e.V.

Website

https://cog-d.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

COGD is a German non-profit industry association, founded in 2005, that convenes more than 100 industrial OEMs, suppliers, distributors, and service providers across DACH, the Netherlands, and France to share practices on electronic component obsolescence management, and codifies the smartPCN standard (VDMA 24903).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Radevormwald

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Annual Membership Fees: The primary revenue source is annual membership dues charged per company location (Firmenstandort). The membership fee grants access to all quarterly meetings (up to two attendees per location), the full document repository, working group participation, and the member-only area of the website.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

COGD e.V. is a non-profit member-based industry association that helps German-speaking enterprises manage component obsolescence by providing a structured knowledge exchange platform. Its core deliverables are annual corporate memberships (€1,400 per company location) that grant access to four quarterly meetings, active working groups, a members-only document archive, and the smartPCN digital standard for Product Change and Discontinuation Notifications.

Product overview

COGD (Component Obsolescence Group Deutschland) e.V. is an industry association focused on obsolescence management, not a product company in the traditional sense. The organization's primary offering is a membership-based network and knowledge-sharing platform centered on obsolescence management best practices. The flagship product is the smartPCN standard (digital format for PCN/PDN notifications), supported by the smartPCN Viewer/Generator 3.0 web tool. Core services include quarterly meetings with expert presentations, active working groups (covering topics from smartPCN standardization to AI applications in obsolescence management), a password-protected member area with access to presentations and documents, and workshops for professional development. The association is licensed as the DACH Chapter of IIOM (International Institute of Obsolescence Management), providing members access to international conferences, certification programs (AIIOM, MIIOM, FIIOM), and a global network of over 250 companies and 700 individuals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annual COGD Membership Annual corporate membership granting enterprise buyers access to four quarterly meetings, working group participation, the password-protected "Mein COGD" portal, and the full archive of presentations and obsolescence management documents. Priced per company location and renewable each year.
• Quarterly Meetings (Quartalsmeetings) Four in-person quarterly meetings per year, regularly attracting about 100 participants per event, with expert presentations on obsolescence management, working group reports, discussion groups, and networking. Held at rotating member and partner venues across the DACH region; free for the first-time non-member attendance (max 2 persons/company).
• Working Groups (Arbeitsgruppen) Active member-driven working groups on specialized obsolescence topics, including Working Group 6 (smartPCN/PCN Content & Process), Working Group 12 (Lifecycle Forecast), Working Group 15 (REACH & SCIP), and Working Group 17 (Obsolescence Management with AI). Outputs are published as guidance documents and standards contributions.
• smartPCN Standard (smartPCN 3.0) Free, standardized digital format for transmitting Product Change Notifications (PCN) and Product Discontinuation Notifications (PDN) from manufacturers and distributors to customers. Enables priority recognition of PCNs and automated processing, with a claimed 75% reduction in manual processing effort. Originally developed by COGD Working Group 6 and adopted as VDMA Guideline 24903.
• smartPCN Viewer/Generator 3.0 Externally hosted web tool for viewing and generating smartPCN 3.0 format notifications, providing automated processing of Product Change Notifications and End-of-Life notices. Operated by COGD sponsor PCN Global GmbH & Co. KG.
• Workshops and Training Specialized workshops for 25-30 participants on specific obsolescence management topics, run alongside the quarterly meetings to provide hands-on skill development in obsolescence methodologies, standards, and tooling.

Quantifiable outcome

• The smartPCN standard reportedly reduces manual processing effort for PCNs and EOL notifications by 75%
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability1 record

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VDMA (Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 December 2017The VDMA's 'Interagierendes Obsoleszenzmanagement' working group adopted and extended the smartPCN concept as VDMA Guideline 24903, published in December 2017. This gave the COGD-developed standard formal recognition as a German industry standard, available through the VDMA and the Beuth Verlag in German and English.
• IIOM International (International Institute of Obsolescence Management)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015COGD is a licensed chapter of IIOM International, the global umbrella organization for obsolescence management. IIOM was originally founded as COG UK in 1997, rebranded in 2015, and now serves as the international body coordinating chapters in Germany/Austria/Switzerland, France, UK, India, and the United States. COGD's charter as a chapter includes participation in IIOM's annual international conference, access to the IIOM certification program (AIIOM, MIIOM, FIIOM), and representation on the IIOM board through its delegate.
• 3W Media & Marketing ConsultingminorGTM or Marketing Partner3W Marketing & Media Consulting supports COGD in public relations and press work. Werner W. Wiesmeier serves as the contact. The partnership has been active for over ten years, focusing on communications strategy and media outreach for the association.
• Fachverband Elektronikdesign und -fertigung e.V. (FED)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe FED (Electronic Design and Manufacturing Association) represents approximately 700 members including PCB designers, manufacturers, EMS companies, and equipment/software/materials providers. It serves as a forum for professional and economic interests, with some thematic overlap with COGD's obsolescence management focus.
• Forum Vision Instandhaltung e.V. (FVI)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerFVI is a nonprofit organization focused on industrial maintenance, with emphasis on innovative technologies, future trends, knowledge transfer, research, training, and continuing education. Some overlap with COGD in the area of lifecycle management and maintenance of long-lifecycle systems.
• VAIS Verband für Anlagentechnik und IndustrieService e.V.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerVAIS is a professional and economic association for plant technology and industrial services. It promotes and represents the professional and economic interests of its members, with thematic alignment around equipment lifecycle management and industrial services.
• PCN Global GmbH & Co. KGminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPCN Global is a sponsor of COGD. The company operates the smartPCN platform (smartpcn.pcngenerator.com), providing a viewer and generator tool for the smartPCN 3.0 standard developed by COGD Working Group 6.
• Mittwald CM Service GmbH & Co. KGminorOthersMittwald CM Service provides website hosting services for COGD as a data processor under GDPR requirements. The company is based in Espelkamp, Germany.
• European Defence Supply ConferenceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCOGD is a partner of the European Defence Supply conference organized by Vogel Communications Group. COGD's chairman Axel Wagner delivers a presentation on obsolescence management in the defence supply chain at this event. COGD members receive a 30% discount on participation.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Z2Data: Provider of component obsolescence and supply chain risk data, serving the same long-lifecycle electronics OEMs and EMS companies that COGD members represent. Direct commercial peer in component lifecycle intelligence; COGD's treasurer is affiliated with Z2Data, underscoring operational overlap.
• Sourceability: Digital component marketplace and supply chain intelligence platform, including obsolescence and PCN data services for electronics manufacturers. Comparable to COGD's component user and distributor audience and to Z2Data/SiliconExpert in commercial scope.
• SiliconExpert (TechInsights): Commercial component intelligence platform providing part lifecycle, obsolescence, PCN/PDN, and compliance data to electronics OEMs and distributors. Directly comparable to COGD's smartPCN use case for standardized PCN processing, but operated as a paid SaaS product rather than a member association.
• IIOM France (Component Obsolescence Group France): French chapter of IIOM, providing obsolescence management events and content for French-speaking industry. Direct peer as a sister national chapter, with overlapping corporate membership (multinational OEMs often join multiple chapters) and competing for the same pan-European long-lifecycle members.
• PCN Global GmbH & Co. KG: Operator of the smartPCN 3.0 Viewer/Generator platform (smartpcn.pcngenerator.com) and COGD sponsor. Provides a tooled implementation of the very standard COGD developed, making it the closest commercial implementation peer of COGD's flagship output.

Broad incumbents

• VDMA (Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau): Largest German mechanical and plant engineering industry association, which formally adopted COGD's smartPCN as VDMA Einheitsblatt 24903. Comparable as a much larger industry-association peer whose standardization working group legitimizes COGD's flagship output.
• IHS Markit / S&P Global Mobility (Component Intelligence): Large data and analytics provider offering component pricing, lifecycle, and obsolescence intelligence as part of a much broader information services portfolio. Operates in the same obsolescence management data layer as Z2Data and SiliconExpert, but as a much larger, diversified incumbent.

Regional players

• Forum Vision Instandhaltung e.V. (FVI): German maintenance-focused industry association with thematic overlap with COGD in lifecycle management of long-lifecycle industrial assets. Partner/peer under COGD's formal GTM partnership list; comparable in being a German nonprofit industry network rather than directly competing.
• Fachverband Elektronikdesign und -fertigung e.V. (FED): German association for electronic design and manufacturing with ~700 members across PCB, EMS, and equipment/materials suppliers. A directly adjacent industry association in the same DACH electronics ecosystem as COGD, with overlapping members and complementary (rather than competing) coverage of component and design issues.

Others

• IIOM International (International Institute of Obsolescence Management): Global umbrella organization for obsolescence management. COGD is a licensed DACH chapter of IIOM, sharing the same obsolescence management mission, member certification programs (AIIOM/MIIOM/FIIOM), and conference structure. Comparable as the parent-affiliate peer rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@cogde.v.9169
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cog-deutschland-e-v

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about COGD (Component Obsolescence Group Deutschland) e.V.