"End of the life" cycle

Managing the product life cycle (known as PLM, Product Lifecycle Management) is a strategic approach to manage information, processes and resources applied to the life cycle of products and services in several phases: from design to development, launch and, finally, withdrawal.

PLM requires an integrated approach, based on the use of technology, work organisational methods and process definition.

The goal of PLM is to optimise time, cost and quality in the different phases of a product’s life cycle. To do so, it is crucial that the production system can count on a common source to get data, information and product-related processes.

PLM was developed initially in some areas of the manufacturing industry, though in the next years it appears it will be extended and used in other new sectors, such as energy, food, pharmaceutical, telecommunications, distribution and packaging.

A particularly important moment along the cycle is known with the name “end of the life cycle”. In order to dispose of the product in the correct way, the prescribed method must be pointed out exactly in order not to mislead the unfamiliar audience.