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Obsolescence management
Factory Systemes supports you throughout your project by managing the life cycle of its products.
Understanding industrial obsolescence and its impact
Industrial systems often have a lifespan of 10, 15, even 20 years or more, whether in terms of hardware (industrial PCs, expansion cards, connectors) or software (operating systems such as Windows XP, 7, 10, etc.). When this equipment becomes obsolete, and therefore unavailable for sale, the risks increase:
- Successive breakdowns
- Difficulties in obtaining spare parts
- Loss of technical knowledge to manage maintenance
- Production stoppages. The cost of downtime, retrofitting or purchasing spare parts can quickly become critical.
Securing existing systems
The aim is to ensure immediate operational continuity, even in the event of failure:
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Precise inventory: draw up a technical inventory of the systems in place: hardware models, software versions, interfaces (ISA, PCI, COM/LPT ports, etc.).
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Spare parts stock: build up and manage a stock of critical components (boards, power supplies, connectors) to enable rapid repair.
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Documentation and procedures: formalize installation procedures (software and hardware), compile drivers and technical documents needed to restart systems.
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Maintaining skills: ensuring the availability of in-house or external expertise (maintenance, configuration, troubleshooting) so as to be able to quickly restore systems to operating condition in the event of an incident.
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Risk analysis: regularly assess the criticality of equipment and the potential economic consequences of an unplanned shutdown.
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Hardware and software migration
This component ensures the gradual adaptation of the installed base, while guaranteeing continuity of operations and business compatibility:
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Hardware migration: replace obsolete equipment with hardware compatible with old and new systems (e.g. PCI/ISA motherboards).
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Software and OS migration: identify and port or redevelop legacy applications and OS to modern platforms (Windows 10 IoT, industrial Linux).
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Application compatibility: validate the operation of critical applications and anticipate regulatory changes.
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Prioritization: target critical workstations or lines to limit the impact of transitions.
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Communication and I/O solutions: replace obsolete interfaces or protocols with appropriate solutions (I/O cards, proprietary buses).
Proactive product lifecycle management
Anticipate changes to avoid service or supply interruptions:
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EOL monitoring: keep hardware and software obsolescence dates up to date.
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Technology watch: rely on partners for alternative solutions.
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Purchase planning: budget for replacements.
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Document management: keep track of history and processes to facilitate migrations.
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Ongoing training: train maintenance teams in new tools and procedures.
