Editor’s comment: Flying off the shelf?

Allison Cox
I think commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products are a huge threat to products because they
offer similar products for a low cost. If it is a small item I think most customers will go for the
COTS product, but if it is a larger item or an important items, then customers will spend the
amount necessary. Quality over quantity goes a long way.

Lindsey Cabanas:
Commercial off-the-shelf products, have a use and so do small specialist component suppliers.
Working in a production environment, it can be seen that it does not always make sense to use
the most expensive part. Part obsolescence may happen and as always, companies adjust and
create work arounds and alternatives.

Lorena Zamora Matos:

The risk of obsolescence will always be there, progress is inevitable, and when a better product
comes with a better price, the latter prevails. Commercial off-the-shelf products (COTS) will
always be used because is a great economic option, if things are going to be made obsolete
anyway, we might as well find the most optimal way to make them. I think it always makes
sense to mass produce, when the demand is there and the product is generic enough. So to go
back to the unanswered question in the article, I think that the odds stacking up against small
specialist component suppliers in the same way the major supermarket shelves are stacking up
against the small independent traders are very close. At least the growth and potential seems to
have a similar curve.

Brian Evans
What this writer is describing is exactly what happens when a store like Walmart shows up in a
small town. Unfortunately, as consumers…we are left with no choice once the “mom and pop”
stores closes. We have to adapt to our new situation. I agree with the writer that “engineering
and procurement functions are specialized and need the highest levels of expertise and reliability
that COTS can’t provide. But like all of us Walmart shoppers, which some of us are also
engineers,…..engineers will have to adapt because we’ll be left with no choice in some
circumstances.

Avni Patel
Being an engineer I agree with what Brians Evans has mentioned in his discussion, that
engineers will have to adapt because we will be left with no choice in some circumstances. I
understand that commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) is provided to help low cost convenience
shopping. However, giving more power to the major supermarkets and disadvantage to the local
shops and home produce centers. It is beneficial for the consumers who prefer low-cost products
but when the local shops that eventually run out of business because of supermarkets, the others
would have no choice but to buy COTS products.

Jamarius Willis
I agree with Brian about how Walmart’s can come to a small town and basically outperform the
mom and pop stores. In these cases, though mom and pop stores must focus on their strength.
The strength of smaller businesses is usually their specialty and convenience. For instance, most
Walmart’s are far out because they require a lot of space. As for a Publix they are usually just a
mile or 2 away from the nearest suburb. Publix isn’t a mom and pop of course but it is a good
example of how smaller stores can still benefit. The one thing I hate about Publix though is how
much more expensive it is. Often small businesses follow the same suit because of low demand.
As a small business in today’s market you must find a few key specialties that aren’t often found
at major businesses in the area.

Anthony Randazzo
I have to disagree with the majority of the groups responses. In my experience in the field, COTS
is a great direction to move in. Mom and Pop shops are not respected anymore and creative
engineering is a waste of time and money in the eyes of Amazon-Addicted-America. It’s nothing
personal, just business. Everyone is a number, management is greedy, and time is money. Why
fight such a sustainable approach?