Mapping: a foundation for anticipating obsolescence
Obsolescence does not start with disruption but with a lack of visibility. As we develop our obsolescence management software, one principle guides us: anticipation requires clarity. This first article introduces our mapping module and the foundation it establishes for what comes next.
MODULE
2/11/20261 min read
As we continue developing our obsolescence management software at Greentrack GENIUS, one thing has become increasingly clear: effective anticipation starts with visibility.
As the product takes shape, we want to share some of the core principles that guide its development, starting with a capability we see as foundational: mapping.
Obsolescence starts long before the alert
In most industrial organizations, obsolescence builds gradually. It is often amplified by fragmented information and limited visibility across systems.
Across production environments, companies manage:
Machines and production lines
Spare parts and equipment
Technical and operational knowledge
In many cases, similar production systems deployed across multiple sites or customers
When an issue emerges, the challenge is rarely identifying that something is wrong. It is knowing where to start.
What mapping means
Mapping is often associated with inventories or asset lists. In reality, it goes further.
The mapping capability we are working on aims to provide a structured, shared view of industrial assets by answering a few essential questions:
What do we have?
Where is it used?
What role does it play?
How does it connect to other assets?
This approach makes it possible to see beyond individual references. Two machines may differ in brand, supplier, or part number, yet serve the same operational function. Identifying these functional equivalences changes how obsolescence risks are perceived and addressed.
Two complementary perspectives
To reflect industrial reality, mapping brings together two intersecting points of view:
A literal perspective (what is it? where is it?)
A functional perspective (what does it do? what role does it serve)?
Crossing these perspectives reveals connections between assets, production lines, and organizations that often remain invisible when data is siloed.
Mapping knowledge, not only equipment
Obsolescence does not only concern physical components.
A first level of analysis also involves understanding:
Where critical knowledge resides
Which teams master which systems
How expertise relates to specific machines or functions
The loss of know-how can be just as impactful as the loss of a component.
A necessary starting point
Before anticipation, before strategic decision-making, one element is essential: clarity.
This first mapping capability is designed to establish a reliable foundation and help organizations build a shared understanding of their industrial landscape, preparing them for the future.