Obsolescence in the rail industry

Knowledge, skills, objects, technologies and currents of thought are all affected by obsolescence [H 7 000] . According to Baron et al. [H 7 000] obsolescence is characterized by the loss of an entity's use value as a result of innovation, progress or a new discovery. It therefore has repercussions on various economic, industrial and societal levels. All sectors are affected. The rail sector is at the crossroads of various issues, such as technological innovation, environmental sustainability and evolving safety standards. In a society where public transport is developing in response to societal needs and ecological necessities, with the aim of ensuring the long-term viability of production assets, manufacturers such as Alstom, Siemens and Stadler are faced with the challenge of carefully managing the obsolescence of their products. For them, it's a challenge to take up and a problem to anticipate. How does obsolescence manifest itself in this sector of industry, and what are the means for managing it? To answer this question, this article aims to identify the main consequences of this phenomenon and presents solutions for dealing with it. First of all, it will highlight the difference in lifespan between electronic components, which last a few months, and products used in the railway sector, such as trains, which have a service life of several decades. As a result, railway equipment is a victim of a rapid evolutionary process, leading to the obsolescence of electronic components. Secondly, the article will show how obsolescence of mechanical parts manifests itself in this sector. Finally, it will propose solutions based on the circular economy to curb the obsolescence process.