In today’s rapidly changing technology landscape, life cycle management of electronic systems-especially in highly regulated industries such as rail and medical-is becoming an increasingly critical challenge.
Eletech, the research and development arm of the Elemaster Group, a major player in the electronic manufacturing services (EMS) industry with a worldwide presence, has developed a comprehensive approach to help Customers maintain the competitiveness of their products through obsolescence management, sustainability, and value engineering.
Sustainability and lifecycle management
A major concern of the rail and medical industry is to ensure the sustainability of electronic systems over time. Eletech’s obsolescence management service supports customers by maintaining the design and manufacturing aspects of their products, ensuring that they remain viable in the marketplace over the long term.
The focus is on managing obsolescence of critical electronic components and aligning systems with the latest eco-design regulations. This holistic process not only upgrades and extends the life of existing products, but also brings them into compliance with modern environmental standards.
Eletech’s service emphasizes the minimization of waste and energy consumption during the redesign and manufacturing phases, thus contributing to sustainable product lifecycle management. For companies that want to stay ahead in the competitive market, it is essential to ensure the sustainability of their products through timely redesign and component replacement.
The role of value engineering in cost-effective redesign
An important aspect of Eletech’s value proposition lies in its value engineering approach. Many of the electronic systems Eletech works on come from older designs that, while functional, require significant upgrades to remain competitive. These systems are often cost sensitive, especially in markets where margins are tight and operational efficiency is critical.
Value engineering focuses on reducing costs by optimizing design and material selection while ensuring high performance. By working collaboratively with customers through a co-design process, Eletech can identify opportunities for savings.
This is especially important for legacy systems, where components may be obsolete, scarce, or no longer compliant with current regulations.
Phases of obsolescence management
Eletech’s obsolescence management process consists of two main phases:
- Initial Assessment Phase: this phase begins with a detailed supply chain analysis to identify risks and vulnerabilities in the current system design. Risks are ranked using a system of life-cycle risk levels, where each potential problem is evaluated according to its impact on the overall system. This initial assessment is critical for outlining potential future challenges and preparing mitigation strategies.
- Detailed Impact Assessment Phase: the second phase delves into the identified risks. Each risk is assigned one of three levels A, B or C:
o A: minor changes, such as finding alternative components.
o B: hardware redesign, which may require more significant changes
o C: comprehensive changes involving redesign of both hardware and software.
This phase ensures a thorough assessment of each risk and recommendation of appropriate measures. Whether the solution is as simple as replacing a component or a complete system overhaul, Eletech offers customers a clear path.
For Customers who need additional changes or upgrades beyond these initial steps, Eletech also offers a redesign phase, which can be initiated upon request. This provides flexibility and adaptability in addressing emerging challenges as technologies evolve.
Case studies: real-world applications
Eletech, the lead company of Elemaster Group’s International Design Centers, has successfully implemented its obsolescence management and value engineering strategies across a range of industries.
Two notable examples are:
– Medical device for plasma treatment: one of Eletech’s projects involved the upgrade of an obsolete medical device used for extracorporeal plasma treatment during surgery. This highly specialized equipment faced significant obsolescence issues due to aging components and changing regulatory requirements. Through a detailed impact assessment, Eletech was able to redesign key parts of the system to extend its operational life, ensuring compliance with modern medical standards while reducing costs.
– Train utility control system: another project involved the redesign of a modular and scalable control system for managing train utilities, including toilets. Given the need for reliability and the modular nature of modern rail systems, this project required a combination of hardware and software redesign to ensure that the system could be easily upgraded over time without disrupting service or adding unnecessary costs.
Conclusion
Eletech, through its partnership with Elemaster, is at the forefront of obsolescence management and value engineering in the rail and medical electronics industries. By offering a structured approach to lifecycle management rooted in sustainability and cost reduction, Eletech helps key industry players meet the challenges of keeping their products competitive in today’s demanding marketplace.
This combination of sustainability-focused design maintenance and cost-effective value engineering ensures that companies can efficiently manage obsolescence, reduce waste, and continue to meet the evolving needs of their customers.
With projects ranging from medical devices to complex rail systems, Eletech’s services demonstrate the tangible benefits of proactive lifecycle management in high-risk industries.