"Design for Upgrading" of machines and production processes: A guideline based on actual demands of industry and sustainable design

This paper is about the topic to plan the prolongation of the lifetime of capital goods through a special focus to upgrading during product development and product life span. It is the goal that products are utilized longer and to reduce the essential disadvantages upon the environment. The costs of development and manufacturing for the implementation of the new functions and modules in the product in a later utilization phase have to be decreased effectively. The discussed guideline “design for upgrading” shows a methodology how to develop products which can be upgradeable in their life span. The three interrelated processes (product life cycle, module life cycle and upgrading process) and the use of resources will be presented, too. The paper describes the results of two research projects with different companies during their product development. Now the author is working at the Robert Bosch GmbH, business field Gasoline systems, on process engineering and product development.     «

This paper is about the topic to plan the prolongation of the lifetime of capital goods through a special focus to upgrading during product development and product life span. It is the goal that products are utilized longer and to reduce the essential disadvantages upon the environment. The costs of development and manufacturing for the implementation of the new functions and modules in the product in a later utilization phase have to be decreased effectively. The discussed guideline “design for...     »