The department Product Lifecycle Management dedicates its research effort to the optimization of product efficiency throughout its entire lifecycle. Using an integrated approach puts the emphasis on the transparency and continuity of product data and information across company boundaries. The simulation of the overall lifecycle is one of the key competencies of the department. In order to set up an all-encompassing digital product representation which provides an efficient basis for further modelling, simulation and analysis procedures, powerful tools and methods are developed and refined. Combined with specifically tailored data integration systems the product’s life can be described and analyzed from the first concept phase throughout testing, construction, manufacturing, and operations up to its end-of-life. The focus is set on the digital twin’s capabilities for determination, monitoring and prediction of economic and ecological long-term impacts of the application of new innovations. These include novel maintenance concepts, methods and technologies as well as product modifications and retrofits.
Integrated product management constitutes another key competency of the Product Lifecycle Management department. It emphasizes the holistic approach, which enables the retracing of essential insights to the design processes in order to maximize the product efficiency using customized development strategies, such as design for lifecycle or design for maintenance.