Closed-loop lifecycle management

Closed-loop lifecycle management (CL₂M) is a natural development and extension of PLM (Product Lifecycle Management).

The concept of CL₂M was first adopted during the EU funded PROMISE project (http://www.promise-plm.com). A consortium of 22 organisations set out to close the gaps in information flow between the various stages of life of any product, i.e. BOL – Beginning of Life MOL – Middle of Life EOL – End of Life.

It involves collecting identification and sensor data, plus any other kind of useful ‘lifecycle event’ data. This is then filtered and aggregated into meaningful information. The information may then be converted into knowledge by applying decision support or other analysis routines. Ultimately the resulting knowledge may be fed back into the various processes which make up the total life of the product or service.

The end result of the PROMISE project was the basis of a technology independent and vendor neutral architecture that will lend itself to not only products but also services and healthcare. A standardisation effort is being initiated in cooperation with The Open Group (http://www.opengroup.org/qlm). Currently organisations interested in joining this effort should make contact using the link just given.

A CL₂M community site (http://cl2m.com) has been established to provide a single information exchange for unbiased information on the wide range of complex technologies and disciplines that this approach demands.