A time-controlled component is a part, material, or assembly whose use, status, or replacement is governed by an elapsed-time limit. The limit may relate to shelf life, storage duration, open time, cure time, service life, operating hours, or another defined time-based condition.
In manufacturing and quality systems, time-controlled components are commonly tracked so that expired, over-age, or time-exceeded items are not used without the required disposition. Examples include adhesives with a limited pot life, materials with expiration dates, calibrated items with due dates, and aerospace components with defined service or replacement intervals.
This term should not be confused with a timing device or an electronic component that controls time. It describes how the component is managed, not what the component does. It is also distinct from lot-controlled or serial-controlled tracking, although the same item may be controlled by lot, serial number, and time at the same time.