The Paradigm of "Product Life-Time Value" Access to Networked Partnerships

Due to global competition, companies are unable to survive just by manufacturing and selling their products. Many of them extend their value-adding chain to areas of design, assembly and service. In this way, suppliers also become involved into the development of products as a result of the application of modern information and communications systems. The control of the system remains in the manufacturer's hands who deals directly with the market. The sector of after-sales enables a long-term relationship to be built up and is increasingly becoming a strategic key position. The strategic objective behind these service models is to optimize total profits over the entire life-span of a product. The maximization of the "life-time value" of a product is becoming a central issue in all operations. The digital control and surveillance of machines will form the basis for mastering these constraints in the digital age.