Five Life Cycle Stages of Transformers and Inductors

Image: Flickr user Graffiti Land

The US EPA http://www.epa.gov/dfe/pubs/wire-cable/wirecable-factsheet.pdf life cycle factsheet for wire and cable outlines the four following stages for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA):

* Raw material extraction or acquisition and material processing;
* Product manufacture;
* Product use/maintenance; and
* End-of-life disposition.

When dealing with transformers and inductors, we find it helpful to call attention to an additional stage:

* Re-manufacturing/downcycling

The re-manufacturing/downcycling stage fits into the chronology after Product use/maintenance and before End-of-life disposition. It’s important for designers to be aware of the re-manufacturing/downcycling stage early in the product development process.