Part based decentralized information handling for process improvements along the supply chain

¿Gentelligence®¿ is a neologism which consists of the two words ¿genetic¿ and ¿intelligent¿. Gentelligent® Parts are basically components which are able to save information. The special and specific property is that they have both the ability to save and store information and to handing it over to the next component generation. Lifecycle information is saved in a continuous process. Due to these characteristics, Gentelligent® Parts can serve as a decentralized enterprise information system (EIS). As a result, it is possible to identify extensive potential for improving logistic and technical processes arising along the product evolutionary process and during the usage phase. This article provides insight into both the principle of Gentelligent® Parts as well as the corresponding data structure and targeted process improvements.