Product life cycle management
Optimized performance
We are committed to the reliability of your operations. Therefore we provide full support to maximize your operational uptime – and thereby lower your life cycle costs. Our Product Life Cycle Management model provides you with the opportunities and support to ensure you reach this goal.
Improving operational reliability
Product Life Cycle Management supports asset management and budgeting by providing information at the right time. Implementation of a life cycle strategy improves operational reliability.
Maximizing operational uptime
Operational reliability means non-stop processes. Accordingly, the systematic application of the Product Life Cycle Management model will maximize operational uptime.
Lowering life cycle costs
Maximum operational uptime minimizes failure costs and therefore reduces overall operational expenditure. In other words, Product Life Cycle Management lowers downtime and related costs.
ABB E-mobility life cycle phases
Increasing know-how and ever greater possibilities are driving rapid advances in technology. In addition, users demand high availability and smooth performance. The answer is Product Life Cycle Management, developed by ABB E-Mobility to improve the reliability of operations and support the serviceability of your production assets. At the heart of ABB’s services is Product Life Cycle Management, a four-phase model based on the know-how and experience acquired by ABB during many years in local and global markets. All services relating to ABB E-mobility are planned according to this model. Product Life Cycle Management allows ABB to inform users about the life cycle status of their equipment in the form of a pro-active life cycle communication. These life cycle announcements and life cycle notes are issued by ABB as an integral part of the Product Life Cycle Management model with its four phases:
Active
The Active phase starts when the product is launched. Here, state-of-the-art products are sold on the market and fully supported with spare parts, a range of life cycle services and product design enhancements.
Classic
Throughout the Classic phase, ABB customers continue to benefit from complete life cycle services. The Classic phase is closely linked to ABB’s research and development work to provide ongoing support while developing future product generations. During this phase, ABB guarantees the availability of its life cycle services, product support and spare parts. In addition, ABB issues a life cycle announcement and provides early information about the current equipment life cycle status, and indicates when the product will shift to the Limited or Obsolete phase with its associated life cycle services.
Limited
Products only get in the Limited phase when the product can no longer follow the requirements of latest cyber security. Due to the continuous improvement of control hardware generations, some Classic products cannot be upgraded anymore with the latest software updates after a couple of years. With that, the product’s cybersecurity will get limited and inadequate, also limiting ABB’s poss
Operating systems and architectures are subject to a very fast evolution, as well as to new cyber security vulnerabilities. Best software practices and various new features are continuously added to Active and Classic products.
However, after some years in the Classic phase, products cannot be upgraded anymore with the latest software updates due to limited technical capabilities of legacy control-hardware. At this point the latest software will be ‘frozen’: no further updates for communication protocols, interoperability with electric vehicles, cyber security, etc. are developed for the chargers anymore. This may imply that the product’s cyber security will get inadequate limiting ABB to offer remote monitoring, diagnostics, and service support.
In order to avoid the potentially severe consequences of such a frozen state, ABB will support a control-hardware upgrade for a wide range of its products. This will keep the product in the Classic phase including the regular software enhancements. The upgrade can be a one-time purchase or alternatively an integrated element of an ABB Service Level Agreement (SLA).
Before the start of the Limited phase, ABB will inform you about the option to upgrade the control-hardware and return to the Classic phase including extended product life cycle services. We will also share with you the consequences of the reduced service capabilities for your product entering the Limited phase in case you decide against a control-hardware upgrade.
Obsolete
The ABB product is transferred to the Obsolete phase when the provision of services is no longer possible at a reasonable cost, or when ABB can no longer support the product technically, or when the old technology is no longer available.
ABB E-mobility life cycle communication
Life cycle services
Maximizing service and product support
Installation and commissioning
ABB and its service partners offer professional installation and commissioning services
Training
Training services ensure that ABB’s expertise in complex equipment operation is passed on to customer maintenance crews, helping them achieve maximum performance. We offer a full range of courses for classroom and on-site training as well as web-based training (e-learning).
Maintenance
Regular on-site preventive maintenance, carried out in good time by certified field service engineers, maximizes equipment reliability. Maintenance schedules help customers plan their maintenance budgets and control operational costs.
Support and remote services
On-site technical assistance together with advanced product and application support via telephone, e-mail, or video with augmented reality tools (AR) offer fast failure analysis and rectification. Remote equipment monitoring enables ABB to provide experts on-line access for improved accuracy when carrying out condition assessment, wear trend prediction and long-term data analysis tasks.
Spare parts
ABB’s spare part services aim to provide customers with the right spare part at the right place at the right time. ABB provides genuine spare parts and spare part kits, accompanied by the relevant documentation. In addition to new spare parts, ABB offers exchange units and reconditioned parts.
Engineering and consulting
Site-specific assessments to establish equipment performance and condition plus high-level technical analyses serve as a basis for decisions on the tactical implementation of improvements and the development of strategies for extending equipment operating life. Extensions, upgrades and modernization ABB’s upgrade and modernization services are time and cost effective solutions that improve the reliability of operations and extend the life cycle of operational equipment at minimal cost. The service includes advice on viable options while taking into account technological developments and the life cycle of existing equipment. New technologies can improve and extend the functionality of existing equipment at a favorable cost. In many cases, a step-by-step upgrade will enhance the reliability, availability, maintainability and safety of operations.
Migration and replacement
At the end of a product’s life, replacement or migration to the next product generation is necessary. ABB can advise on the best active products and system components and also make recommendations on the proper disposal of the legacy product.
With offices in over 90 countries, ABB is well placed to offer the best technical advice and local support around the clock. ABB’s worldwide presence is built on strong local companies. By combining the experience and know-how acquired in local and global markets, we ensure that our customers in all industries get the most out of our products. For further details about all our services, please contact your nearest ABB office.
