Romero Rojo, Francisco JavierBaguley, PaulShaikh, N.Roy, RajkumarKelly, S.2013-01-222013-01-222013-01-22F.J. Romero Rojo, P. Baguley, N Shaikh, R Roy and S Kelly. TOMCAT: An Obsolescence Management Capability Assessment Framework. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 2012, Volume 364, 0120981742-6588http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/364/1/012098http://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/7766As the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) moves away from the traditional support contracts to contracting for availability/capability, it is essential that the MoD has confidence in Industry’s capability to manage the risk of obsolescence. For this purpose, it was necessary to develop a set of metrics to demonstrate it. The eight key elements identified are as follows: obsolescence management governance; supplier; design for obsolescence; risk assessment; obsolescence monitoring; communication; and obsolescence resolution process. Each one was assessed, ranked, and was further broken down into major constituents. They formed the basis of the final 25 metrics, which were then ranked and weighted accordingly. These metrics are embedded into the Total Obsolescence Management Capability Assessment Tool (TOMCAT), which provides a mean for contractors to perform self-assessment and for the MoD to set obsolescence management capability improvement targets. This tool was subjected to rigorous industry scrutiny through different means, including workshops and piloting sessions, which led to refining the TOMCAT tool and the way in which the metrics are formulated. This tool has been developed as a web based application. The MoD is planning to standardise its usage by incorporating it to the obsolescence management policy for defence contracting.en-UKThis is an author-created, un-copyedited version of an article accepted for publication in Journal of Physics: Conference Series. IOP Publishing Ltd is not responsible for any errors or omissions in this version of the manuscript or any version derived from it. The Version of Record is available online at 10.1088/1742-6596/364/1/012098Article