An Approach for Implementing Obsolescence Management Strategies to Extend Product Service Lifespan

Product obsolescence is unavoidable, particularly due to the swift advancements in technology and evolving customer demands. The impact of obsolescence can be significant, as outdated parts or components can lead to issues related to cost, production, safety, and maintenance. The goal of obsolescence management is to reduce or prevent the effects of obsolescence, thereby extending the product’s lifespan as much as possible. A range of strategies are available to manage obsolescence, including updates and replacements, forecasting, and design refreshes. The implementation of an appropriate strategy is contingent on the current status of the product as well as the specific constraints faced by the company. This paper examines several widely used obsolescence management strategies and proposes a two-stage approach for their implementation. Initially, it introduces a framework that aligns various strategies with the product service lifespan, providing a systematic way to map out obsolescence issues before they become critical. Subsequently, it employs a fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making method to evaluate and prioritise the available strategies. An illustrative example of a Programmable Logic Controller demonstrates its application. This method is capable to deal with various constraints to assess the relative effectiveness of each strategy.