Equipment Lifecycle Management Framework

With the recent evolution of Information and Communication Technologies, the widespread usage of applications to assist in multiple tasks has increased exponentially in the industry. This was made possible by switching from the older paper based management to dematerialized management. For most companies this is achieved using simple databases and applications that manage daily work. However, for some companies this is not enough. Those who deal with a large number of warehouses, most of them with a large storage space, have a need for more complex and evolved management applications, specifically in the area of logistic operations. To address this need, applications were developed to manage equipment and parts in a warehouse, also supported on mobile devices, helping the companies to plan and manage the operations more efficiently and achieving significant cost benefits. These management applications are essential in modern company’s business, but for the most part are still limited to managing operations in the warehouse, only controlling the incoming, the stock and the outgoing of the equipment. For other companies that have the requirements for further interventions on equipment outside the warehouse, such as managing procurement, maintenance or occurrences, it is vital to be able to follow the equipment lifecycle to anticipate and react efficiently to any situation that might occur. To harness this benefit, the companies need an application that can compile all the information needed from the suppliers and can directly collect data from the equipment while its being used, including, for example, life expectancy of the equipment, the effects of working in different environments and the number of hours of usage, among others. This information, when merged in a defined framework, helps to specify and forecast the equipment needs, allowing for example to plan equipment replacement or the need of preventive maintenance. In this chapter we propose a definition of an Equipment Lifecycle Management Framework, thus enabling the design and creation of an application that will be able to deliver all the benefits of the Operational Dematerialized Management.