levensloopplanning

Levensloopplanning, often translated as lifecycle planning, is the process of forecasting and coordinating all phases of an asset, product, or system from idea to disposal in order to optimize value, risk, and cost over its entire life. It integrates strategic objectives with operational capabilities and input from stakeholders.

Typical stages include ideation and concept validation, design and development, procurement or deployment, market introduction or rollout, operation and maintenance, upgrades, and end-of-life or retirement. Planning activities cover defining requirements, setting performance targets, budgeting, risk assessment, regulatory compliance, and environmental sustainability.

Key practices include cross-functional collaboration among product, operations, finance, and compliance teams; lifecycle cost analysis and total cost of ownership assessment; data governance and traceability; ongoing reviews and adjustments; and formal governance and change control. Organizations often use lifecycle management tools and systems such as product lifecycle management (PLM), asset management, or IT service management to support data and process consistency.

Benefits of levensloopplanning include improved cost predictability, better resource allocation, extended usefulness of assets, reduced risk of obsolescence, and clearer alignment among stakeholders. Challenges can involve ensuring data quality, managing long time horizons, reacting to changing market conditions, and coordinating across organizational silos.

In practice, levensloopplanning is applied in manufacturing, information technology, infrastructure projects, and public sector asset programs to balance performance, cost, risk, and sustainability across an asset’s entire life.