Reduced product lifespan results in an accelerated flow of materials and ultimately more waste. Rapid technology cycles, frequently changing consumer preferences and increasing market competition, provide consumers with an opportunity to use products with more functions and better quality at a cheaper price. Consequently, these products quickly become technologically, psychologically, or economically obsoleted even before the actual end of their physical life/economic valued resulting in shorter product life cycles. These products are often disposed of as landfill. In this context, it can be argued that reduced product lifespan has a significant impact on, both the environment and the economy. To address this issue, our study investigates the concept of upgradability while exploring its potential as a product lifetime extension strategy. Several research papers regarding product upgradability have been published in the past in a variety of settings/domains. However, the collective contributions of these papers have yet to be summarized in order to provide a platform of knowledge for furthering the research on upgradability. To contribute to the body of knowledge, this article aims to identify, interpret, and summarize the current literature available on product upgradability. First results indicate growing interest and promising potential of upgradability as a product lifetime extension strategy, especially given the increasing importance of a product's middle of life phase in the context of Product-Service Systems (PSS). Additionally, upgradability facilitates the implementation of the circular economy, the dissemination of PSS, as well as remanufacturing approaches. However, our findings show that research on upgradable PSS is still dominated by theoretical work and more empirical research is necessary to further establish this concept. In terms of future work, there is a clear need to develop upgradeable PSS-specific design methodologies as well as associated sustainable business models.

1. Review on upgradability – a product lifetime
extension strategy in the context of product
service systems
Renewable Energy in 21st Century (FOREN-2019)
7-9 October, 2019, Rome, Italy
Dr Shaun West
Institute of Innovation and Technology Management
GE
Energy
Uprate Options for the MS7001
Heavy Duty Gas Turbine
Timothy GinterThomas BouvayGE EnergyAtlanta, GA
http://tiny.cc/0t8adz

2. Review on upgradability | Renewable Energy in 21st Century(FOREN-2019)| 7-9 October 2019 | Dr Shaun West
The work presented is
largely based on the
published study and
unpublished assessment
of different “conversions,
modification and
upgrade” cases studies
Review on upgradability e A product lifetime extension strategy in the
context of product service systems
Muztoba Ahmad Khan a
, Sameer Mittal a
, Shaun West b
, Thorsten Wuest a, *
a
Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering, West Virginia University, 26506 Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
b
Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, 6048 Horw, Switzerland
a r t i c l e i n f o
Article history:
Received 27 March 2018
Received in revised form
26 July 2018
Accepted 30 August 2018
Available online 3 September 2018
Keywords:
Product lifetime extension
Upgradability
Life cycle
Product service systems
Circular economy
Remanufacturing
a b s t r a c t
Reduced product lifespan results in accelerated flow of materials and ultimately more waste. Rapid
technology cycles, frequently changing consumer preferences and increasing market competition, pro-
vide consumers with an opportunity to use products with more functions and better quality at a cheaper
price. Consequently, these products quickly become technologically, psychologically, or economically
obsoletedeven before the actual end of their physical life/economic valuedresulting in shorter product
life cycles. These products are often disposed as landfill. In this context, it can be argued that reduced
product lifespan has a significant impact toward, both the environment and the economy. To address this
issue, our study investigates the concept of upgradability while exploring its potential as a product
lifetime extension strategy. Several research papers regarding product upgradability have been published
in the past in a variety of settings/domains. However, the collective contributions of these papers have
yet to be summarized in order to provide a platform of knowledge for furthering the research on up-
gradability. To contribute to the body of knowledge, this article aims to identify, interpret, and sum-
marize the current literature available on product upgradability. First results indicate growing interest
and promising potential of upgradability as a product lifetime extension strategy, especially given the
increasing importance of a product's middle of life phase in the context of Product-Service Systems (PSS).
Additionally, upgradability facilitates the implementation of the circular economy, the dissemination of
PSS, as well as remanufacturing approaches. However, our findings show that research on upgradable
PSS is still dominated by theoretical work and more empirical research is necessary to further establish
this concept. In terms of future work, there is a clear need to develop upgradeable PSS-specific design
methodologies as well as associated sustainable business models.
© 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
1. Introduction
Our society is facing significant environmental challenges,
partly due to the rapid development of consumer goods' con-
sumption. At the current rate of consumption, it takes 1.5 years for
our planet to fully regenerate the renewable natural resources used
by humanity in 1 year (WWF, 2012). This trend of over-
consumption may put the livelihoods of future generations at
tons. That is twice the amount it was in 1980 (OECD, 2015). Addi-
tionally, in line with the growth of global economic activity, ma-
terial consumption is expected to reach 100 billion tons by 2030
(Lutz and Giljum, 2009). This current pattern of mass consumption
in combination with a linear production focused industrial econ-
omy is highly problematic. This pattern of products being produced,
consumed discarded and finally disposed of as waste, increases the
environmental burdens tremendously (Okumura et al., 2001) by
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Journal of Cleaner Production
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jclepro
Journal of Cleaner Production 204 (2018) 1154e1168
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3. Review on upgradability | Renewable Energy in 21st Century(FOREN-2019)| 7-9 October 2019 | Dr Shaun West
Introduction
The problem and the purpose of this paper
… to present some lessons from real cases
Our study investigates the
concept of upgradability
while exploring its potential
as a product lifetime
extension strategy.
… to to perform systematic literature review on upgradability
Purpose of this paper
How and why can upgrade create value for products
Problem

4. Review on upgradability | Renewable Energy in 21st Century(FOREN-2019)| 7-9 October 2019 | Dr Shaun West
Introduction
Relevance to the conference
- Reduced product lifespan creates more waste - Extended product lifespan can significantly improve
both the environment and the economy
http://www.power-eng.com/articles/print/volume-103/issue-11/features/national-powers-advanced-plant-management-system-integrates-commercial-and-process-control-interests.html
Renewable energy should be ‘clean’ across the whole lifecycle
RQ1. What is upgradability and how is it
commonly defined?
RQ2. What are the issues associated with
upgradability?
RQ3. What does upgradability mean in the
context of PSS?
RQ4. What are the triggers for upgrades?

5. Review on upgradability | Renewable Energy in 21st Century(FOREN-2019)| 7-9 October 2019 | Dr Shaun West
Introduction
SiemensGamesa are also thinking of upgradability
https://www.siemensgamesa.com/products-and-services/service-wind/life-extension

6. Review on upgradability | Renewable Energy in 21st Century(FOREN-2019)| 7-9 October 2019 | Dr Shaun West
Introduction
Relevance to me!
http://www.power-eng.com/articles/print/volume-103/issue-11/features/national-powers-advanced-plant-management-system-integrates-commercial-and-process-control-interests.html
This approach limits the circular economy and forces me to buy new products early

7. Review on upgradability | Renewable Energy in 21st Century(FOREN-2019)| 7-9 October 2019 | Dr Shaun West
METHODOLOGY
https://www.infinitydma.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/infinity-digital-agency-our-approach-02.png

8. Review on upgradability | Renewable Energy in 21st Century(FOREN-2019)| 7-9 October 2019 | Dr Shaun West
Methodology
What should be the focus?
Study aims
and
objectives,
and research
question
Systematic
literature
review
Cases
Cross case
analysis
Discussion
http://www.power-eng.com/articles/print/volume-103/issue-11/features/national-powers-advanced-plant-management-system-integrates-commercial-and-process-control-interests.html
A structed approach was taken to analyze the problem and answer the research questions

9. Review on upgradability | Renewable Energy in 21st Century(FOREN-2019)| 7-9 October 2019 | Dr Shaun West
RESULTS AND ANALYSIS
http://irinstitutes.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/analysis.jpg

10. Review on upgradability | Renewable Energy in 21st Century(FOREN-2019)| 7-9 October 2019 | Dr Shaun West
Results and initial analysis
What is considered important across the lifecycle
The beginning of life is key to allow enable conversions, modification and upgrades to be implemented
Beginning of life
- Design for durability
- Design for reliability
- Design for product attachment
- Design for ease of maintenance
and repair
- Design for upgradability
- Design for ease of maintenance
and repair
- Design for upgradability
- Design for disassembly and
reassembly
Part standardization
- Design for modularity
Middle of life
- Product pooling/sharing Product
reuse/redistribute
- Recall
- Preventative maintenance
- Predictive maintenance
- Repair
- Midlife upgrade
End of life
- Remanufacture with upgrade
- Remanufacture
- Refurbish
- Part reuse Recycle

11. Review on upgradability | Renewable Energy in 21st Century(FOREN-2019)| 7-9 October 2019 | Dr Shaun West
Results and initial analysis
Defining upgradability (and other related terms)
Product Upgrade is
“…the process that involves improvement of
functionality and capability of a product in order to
extend its useful life”
Product Upgradability is
“…the level of potential and fitness of a product, in its
functional, physical, and architectural features, to be
effectively (ensuring consumer value) and efficiently
(ensuring positive cost-benefit performance)
modernized by incorporating functional and
performance improvements during the usage and/or
remanufacturing stage.”
Upgradability is
“…integrated into product by means of Design for
Upgradability (DfU), which is a tool to facilitate the
enhancement of a product's functional as well as
physical fitness for ease of upgrade.”
Upgradable Product refers to
“…the product that is robust against future
uncertainties regarding technological innovation and
market movements, and can be upgraded in order to
extend product's life span.”
The ontology of ‘upgrades is important’

12. Review on upgradability | Renewable Energy in 21st Century(FOREN-2019)| 7-9 October 2019 | Dr Shaun West
Results and initial analysis
Upgradability in the context of PSS
“A product service-system (PSS) is a system of products, services,
networks of “players” and supporting infra- structure that
continuously strives to be competitive, satisfy consumer needs and
have a lower environmental impact than traditional business models”.
Industrial product service-systems are different to consumer products

13. Review on upgradability | Renewable Energy in 21st Century(FOREN-2019)| 7-9 October 2019 | Dr Shaun West
Results and initial analysis
PSS cases
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2018/01/11/metro-pacifics-
unsolicited-proposal-for-mrt-3-upgrade-illegal-sobrepena/
https://5.imimg.com/data5/CQ/FA/MY-3657216/frame-9e-gas-
turbines-for-sale-500x500.jpg
https://www.britannica.com/technology/B-52
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CSCL_Globe
National Power/Innogy

14. Review on upgradability | Renewable Energy in 21st Century(FOREN-2019)| 7-9 October 2019 | Dr Shaun West
Results and initial analysis
Motivation for upgrades is based on ‘value-in-use’
The upgrade must create value for the owner and operator of the asset and for the supplier
Deterioration of performance
Technological obsolescence
- Functional
- Economic
- Market
Change in capacity need
Change in regulation

15. Review on upgradability | Renewable Energy in 21st Century(FOREN-2019)| 7-9 October 2019 | Dr Shaun West
Results and initial analysis
Cross case analysis
Deterioration Obsolescence Changed capacity needs Changed regulation
B-52 Major Yes Yes Major
Frame 9E Major Market Major Major
Slow
steaming
No
Market
Economic
Yes No
SCADA
interface
Limited
Functional
Market
Yes No
Metro rail Major
Functional
Economic
Major No

16. Review on upgradability | Renewable Energy in 21st Century(FOREN-2019)| 7-9 October 2019 | Dr Shaun West
?DISCUSSION

17. Review on upgradability | Renewable Energy in 21st Century(FOREN-2019)| 7-9 October 2019 | Dr Shaun West
Discussion
Key issues of upgradability in product-service systems
Value…
- There has to be value for both the supplier and the buyer
- Total cost of ownership has limited relevance
- Marginal costs and marginal improvements are important
This is about building in optionality in to the original system design
Understanding of perception
Upgradable product design
Business models for upgradable products
Upgrade planning

18. Review on upgradability | Renewable Energy in 21st Century(FOREN-2019)| 7-9 October 2019 | Dr Shaun West
Discussion
Important to consider the whole lifecycle
Focus on the people, the equipment and value creation over the asset lifecycle

19. Review on upgradability | Renewable Energy in 21st Century(FOREN-2019)| 7-9 October 2019 | Dr Shaun West
Discussion
What are the triggers for conversions, modifications and upgrades
- Service dominant logic can help identify value
- Value for the owner/operator is based around asset management
- Value for the supplier can be higher than new equipment sales
CMUs offer suppliers opportunities to re-apply new technologies and keep the equipment relevant

20. Review on upgradability | Renewable Energy in 21st Century(FOREN-2019)| 7-9 October 2019 | Dr Shaun West
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

21. Review on upgradability | Renewable Energy in 21st Century(FOREN-2019)| 7-9 October 2019 | Dr Shaun West
Conclusions and recommendations
Conclusions
A definition of upgrades has been defined
A number of issues associated with upgrades have been identified
Upgradability of product-service system has been defined
Upgrades offer opportunities
to improve the worth of the
product-service system for
the owner or operator of the
equipment and also create
value for the supplier of the
upgrade
Triggers for upgrades have been identified and a model created

22. Review on upgradability | Renewable Energy in 21st Century(FOREN-2019)| 7-9 October 2019 | Dr Shaun West
Conclusions and recommendations
Recommendations
There is a gap in the literature that needs ‘filling’
Design PSS for upgrades needs firms to change their approaches
Opportunity to get into the market, then upgrade
New business models and
customer value propositions
are needed to access the full
potential of this market.
Cashflows over the whole life could help identify opotunities

23. Review on upgradability | Renewable Energy in 21st Century(FOREN-2019)| 7-9 October 2019 | Dr Shaun West
CLOSING

24. Review on upgradability | Renewable Energy in 21st Century(FOREN-2019)| 7-9 October 2019 | Dr Shaun West
Thanks for your time!
slideshare.net/ShaunWest
Shaun West
Lucerne University of Applied
Sciences and Arts
shaun.west@hslu.ch
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