Product stewardship

Product stewardship for save and sustainable products

At thyssenkrupp, we consistently take responsibility for safety, quality, and environmental impact of our products and services. We systematically assess safety-related, health-related, and environmental product risks during the entire product lifecycle – and mitigate or eliminate these risks through clearly defined processes and continuous improvement.

Holistic product lifecycle management

Our Group-wide product lifecycle management coordinates all phases of a product or service – from ideation, through portfolio management, requirement engineering, development of design and production, to after-sales service and the end of the product lifecycle.

This is done in a standardized process focused on market and customer requirements. Interdisciplinary teams decide, based on binding criteria, whether a product can move to the next project phase or whether adjustments are necessary. In doing so, we pay particular attention to the economic and environmental impact of the product design – for example, on material usage, manufacturing process, the use phase, and recycling – in cooperation with relevant stakeholders. At the end of their product life, our products that are used directly by our customers are preferable refurbished or modernized. The intermediate products are primarily metallic products that are almost completely recycled at the end of their life.

All phases are based on a continuous improvement process that considers the impact on the entire product lifecycle. The Group Regulation for product lifecycle management describes the binding guidelines for the thyssenkrupp companies with direct product responsibility.

Quality management and certifications

According to our Group Regulation for quality management, responsibility for quality management lies with the operational companies. All production units are regularly audited by accredited auditors and are 100% certified according to one of the following quality management standards:

  • ISO 9001 (General standard)

  • IATF 16949 (Automotive industry)

  • EN 9100 (Aerospace)

These certifications confirm to customers and stakeholders that we reliably meet the highest standards of product quality and safety, and that our processes are regularly reviewed and improved.

The certificates for the individual businesses are available on the respective websites.