Platform for the Integration of Assembly, Disassembly and Life Cycle Management

Information- and communication technologies as they are available by Internet can be used for the management of products life cycle. In the future it will be possible to link all technical products to the Internet and to supervise their life with economic and environmental aspects. Behind of the development of Internet there are theories like the agent theory and standards like XML, which allow the realization and efficient usage of flexible open networks to optimize each products technical usage. Assembly and disassembly are main processes in the life cycle, which finalize products and ensure their utilization. Taking into account the development of modular intelligent products there are new sustainable strategies for manufacturers. They need platforms to manage products and to add value in the after sales processes. This paper includes a definition of an overall platform for life Cycle management based on Internet and agent theories. It focuses on aspects of assembly and LCM of high quality capital goods like assembly systems.