Generic Product Lifecycle Model: A Holistic and Adaptable Approach for Multi-Disciplinary Product–Service Systems

Abstract

The linear economic model behind contemporary product lifecycle representations contradicts planetary boundaries and the idea of sustainability. At the same time, Circular Economy (CE) driven models lack consideration of profound technological insights. Based on observations in research and the application of projects of different industries, a quantitative and qualitative literature analysis is applied to identify both strengths and shortcomings of current lifecycle models. These findings are used to create lifecycle model portfolios and to derive a generic Product Lifecycle model (gPLC). The gPLC is validated by three industrial cases based on collaborative research projects. In practice, resource and energy consumption as well as waste production and emissions can be minimized with the help of established methods not only by economists, but also by engineers. Transparency of material and information circularity practically implies the opportunity to implement, for instance, Minimum Viable Products and DevOps approaches. The originality of the gPLC is characterized by three main aspects: first, material and information flows of multi-disciplinary product–service systems are recognized as the foundation for a modern CE; second, a differentiation between product classes and instances is elaborated to stimulate sustainable design of material core products and digital CE business models; and third, the stakeholder perspective is expanded from manufacturer and consumer/user to further perspectives, such as recycler and society.

Review: Model-based Systems Engineering and Artificial Intelligence for Engineering of Sustainable Systems – What contribution can systems engineering and artificial intelligence provide for the engineering of sustainable systems as of today?

“…Furthermore, the stakeholder perspective of producer and consumer/user is extended to other perspectives such as recycling/ reuse and society. (Gräßler / Pottebaum, 2021)…”

Potentials and Goals of Models in Strategic Product Planning and Innovation Management

“…Key aspects of the model are circularity of materials and information and the associated agility to use information and materials in all steps of product lifecycle. (Gräßler and Pottebaum, 2021) In order to obtain a marketable product, identified product ideas have to be handed over to engineering (engineering order). Representative for engineering is the V-Model of the guideline VDI 2206:2021.…”

Approach to Sustainability-Based Assessment of Solution Alternatives in Early Stages of Product Engineering

“…Product lifecyle models are named in the literature. One model that is particularly suitable due to its transferability to different types of product is the generic product lifecycle (gPLC) according to (Gräßler and Pottebaum, 2021). The gPLC places the product life phases "strategic planning", "engineering", "realisation", "operation/service delivery" and "decommissioning" in an upward sequence and relates them to each other.…”

“…The gPLC places the product life phases "strategic planning", "engineering", "realisation", "operation/service delivery" and "decommissioning" in an upward sequence and relates them to each other. The decisive features for embedding the assessment in the gPLC are a) Circular Economy compatibility and b) uptake of the benefits of intrinsic engineering methodologies (Gräßler and Pottebaum, 2021). Circular Economy is represented by the return flow of information and materials.…”