Life Cycle Engineering – Solutions throughout the system life cycle

Why life cycle engineering is crucial throughout the entire product life cycle

Many companies develop machinery and plant with a focus on commissioning – yet the vast majority of life-cycle costs arise only afterwards: during operation, maintenance, modifications and the supply of spare parts, often spanning decades. If the subsequent life cycle is not taken into account from the outset, there is a risk of high follow-on costs, obsolescence issues and costly retrofits.

The key difference is that ITQ considers systems not just up to the point of commissioning, but throughout their entire life cycle – from the initial concept through development and production to operation, maintenance, retrofitting and decommissioning. This results in systems that not only work, but also remain cost-effective and maintainable for years to come.

Your benefits at a glance:

Lower life-cycle costs through early consideration of operation and maintenance
Reduced risk of obsolescence for components and software throughout their entire service life
Clearly planned maintenance, update and retrofit strategies
Greater system availability and a longer service life
Traceable documentation throughout the entire life cycle
Planning certainty for spare parts, successor models and system upgrades

Finding the right solution together

Your personal contact for software engineering will be happy to advise you on your specific enquiry.

Get in touch now for a no-obligation consultation.

Harald Weigold, Graduate Engineer

Member of the Executive Board

„A system is not fully developed when it goes live, but when it can be operated, maintained and further developed cost-effectively over many years.“

Do you only think about your systems up to the point of commissioning – or beyond?

In many companies, planning ends once the system is commissioned. Maintenance, the supply of spare parts and subsequent upgrades are only addressed reactively once problems have already arisen. Components and software become obsolete, documentation is lost over the years, and knowledge of the system remains tied to individual staff members.

This is precisely where ITQ comes in: operation, maintenance, obsolescence and decommissioning are factored into the planning right from the start – not only once normal operations have already begun to falter. This ensures that systems remain cost-effective, maintainable and capable of further development throughout their entire service life.

Typical challenges in life cycle engineering

Typical challenges within a company:

Systems are optimised for commissioning, not for long-term operation
The obsolescence of components and software jeopardises security of supply
Maintenance and spare parts strategies are initially developed on a reactive rather than a planned basis
Documentation and system knowledge are lost over the course of the system’s service life

Only by planning across the entire life cycle can systems be made economically viable and manageable in the long term.

Services relating to life cycle engineering

ITQ supports companies throughout the entire lifecycle of their systems – from design, through development and production, to operation, maintenance, retrofitting and decommissioning.

An overview of our services

Development of life-cycle-oriented system concepts
Development of maintenance, update and retrofit strategies
Obsolescence management for components, software and spare parts
Planning cost-effective operational and maintenance strategies
Ensuring consistent documentation throughout the entire life cycle

Methodological expertise

Life-cycle-oriented system planning in accordance with ISO/IEC 15288 (System life-cycle processes)
Life-cycle costing and economic assessment over the service life
Obsolescence and Spare Parts Management
Retrofit and modernisation concepts for existing plants
Knowledge preservation and documentation strategies over decades

Procedures in life-cycle engineering projects

Life Cycle Engineering requires a perspective that extends beyond the development phase alone. ITQ supports systems throughout all phases of their life cycle and plans for operation, maintenance and decommissioning right from the start.

Project phases

Analysis of life-cycle requirements

Identification of operational, maintenance and service life requirements as a basis for life-cycle-oriented concepts.

Concept for development and production

Design of the system and production process with a view to subsequent operational phases.

Operations and Maintenance Planning

Development of maintenance, update and spare parts strategies for day-to-day operations.

Retrofitting and further development

Adapting and modernising existing systems to meet new requirements and incorporate new technologies.

Decom&shymissioning planning

Concepts for dismantling, reuse and sustainable end-of-life disposal.

Life Cycle Engineering in Practice

Sector: Logistics, Mechanical Engineering

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Further ITQ solutions

The services described form part of ITQ’s comprehensive service portfolio. ITQ combines technological expertise, a methodical approach and a deep understanding of processes to deliver sustainable solutions throughout the entire life cycle.

FAQs – Life Cycle Engineering

What is Life Cycle Engineering at ITQ?

A holistic view of a system throughout its entire life cycle – from design, through development and production, to operation, maintenance, retrofitting and decommissioning.

How does Life Cycle Engineering differ from MBSE and Agile Systems Engineering?

MBSE focuses on the model-based description of systems, whilst agile systems engineering focuses on their iterative development. Life Cycle Engineering complements both approaches by incorporating the perspective of the entire life cycle – in particular operation, maintenance, obsolescence and decommissioning.

Why is obsolescence management part of life cycle engineering?

This is because components and software become obsolete or are discontinued over the course of a system’s service life, which often spans several decades. Without active management, this jeopardises security of supply.

For which systems is Life Cycle Engineering particularly worthwhile?

For machinery and plant with long service lives, where operation, maintenance and retrofitting account for a significant proportion of the total costs.

Any further questions ...

What does a life-cycle-based maintenance strategy involve?

Clear strategies for spare parts, predictable updates, retrofit options and comprehensive documentation throughout the entire service life.

How exactly does ITQ support life cycle engineering?

ITQ develops life-cycle-oriented system concepts, as well as obsolescence and maintenance strategies, and supports companies from the design stage right through to the decommissioning of their systems.