Inventories, net

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Note 6. Inventories, net

The components of inventories are as follows:


	March 31,		December 31,
	2017		2016
	(in thousands)
Raw materials	$	78,055	$	82,263
Work in process		19,892		14,117
Finished goods (completed systems)		17,688		17,473
Inventories, net	$	115,635	$	113,853

When recorded, inventory reserves are intended to reduce the carrying value of inventories to their net realizable value. The Company establishes inventory reserves when conditions exist that indicate inventory may be in excess of anticipated demand or is obsolete based upon assumptions about future demand for the Company’s products or market conditions. The Company regularly evaluates the ability to realize the value of inventories based on a combination of factors including the following: forecasted sales or usage, estimated product end of life dates, estimated current and future market value and new product introductions. Purchasing and usage alternatives are also explored to mitigate inventory exposure. As of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, inventories are stated net of inventory reserves of $8.6 million and $8.8 million, respectively.