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Product End-of-Life Decision

When a product’s commercial life ends, what value and obligations remain?
End-of-life decisions shape how customers are supported and what happens to products, parts and materials.

When and how should products be phased out, reused or recycled?

  • Prepare

    • Understand remaining demand and the installed base

    • Identify component and supplier obsolescence

    • Assess inventory and spare-parts needs

    • Evaluate reuse, recovery and recycling opportunities

    • Understand the financial and environmental impact

  • Make

    • When should the product be phased out?

    • Should a last-time buy or replacement be approved?

    • How long should service and spare-parts support continue?

    • Which products, components and materials should be reused or recovered?

    • Which recycling and disposal strategy should we select?

  • Execute

    • Implement product and component phase-out

    • Manage remaining inventory and suppliers

    • Transition customers to replacement products

    • Secure service and spare-parts availability

    • Implement reuse, recovery and recycling activities

  • Measure

    • Were obsolete inventory and write-offs minimized?

    • Was the phase-out completed within the approved cost?

    • Were customers transitioned without unnecessary revenue loss?

    • Did recovered products, components and materials create value?

    • Were reuse, recovery and recycling targets achieved?

  • Related standard and lifecycle processes

    • ISO 10007: Configuration management from concept to disposal; Change Control; Configuration Status Accounting

    • ISO 14001: Environmental lifecycle perspective; Resource use; Waste management; Environmental performance

Example

Product Phase-Out and Circularity

Prepare: Which customers, installed products, components, suppliers, inventory and spare parts are affected, and what can be reused or recycled?
Make: When should the product be phased out, how long should it be supported, and what should be reused, recovered or recycled?
Execute: Phase out the product, transition customers, secure spare parts and service, and implement the agreed reuse and recycling activities.
Measure: Did the phase-out release the expected working capital, reduce obsolete inventory and achieve the planned recovery and recycling value?

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