Servicers need access to parts, tools and docs
By Willie Cade, YSN Contributor
In recent years, a significant transformation has taken place in the realm of product control after the transfer of ownership to the consumer, marking a paradigm shift.
This shift holds both promise and potential for abuse. To truly grasp its impact, let’s delve into the “how” and “why” behind this evolution.
Over the past few decades, appliances have and will continue to transition from traditional mechanical control to electronic control systems with internet connectivity. While electronic control and internet connectivity offer exciting new capabilities, it has also led to a gradual erosion of what it means to own a product. Manufacturers have adopted tactics that, while not completely hindering owners or independent service providers from some repairs, can increasingly create exclusivity or a monopoly on services. They do this by limiting the necessary electronic repair tools. In essence, manufacturers aim to capture more spent on product upkeep and repair.
The Right to Repair
The Right to Repair movement has emerged with broad consumer support as a comprehensive response to safeguarding a competitive environment for parts — both OEM and aftermarket — along with repair services. In this series featured in YSN, we will explore the subtle and not-so-subtle strategies employed by manufacturers to control parts and repair. It is crucial to understand that monopolizing repair, or “tying,” is illegal and contrary to the best interests of product owners, i.e., your customers.
Just over a century ago, in 1917, during the introduction of mechanical products like tractors to American farmers, there were a staggering 124 companies that sold nearly 63,000 tractors. In fact, Deere & Co., known today for its iconic green and yellow machines, initially focused solely on plows and other implements. Thanks to the innovations and competitive spirit of many people like my grandfather, Theo Brown, John Deere’s longtime chief engineer, we are reminded that less than a century ago, the behemoth of John Deere was a point on the horizon.
Hardware and Software
So, how does this new paradigm work? Imagine today’s products as a fusion of a physical device and its embedded logic capabilities, specifically software, which are intricately interconnected for functionality. These two components — physical device and logic properties — possess distinct characteristics. To provide comprehensive service, maintenance or repair, one must address both the physical and logical aspects. Without access to the logic, servicing a customer’s needs remains incomplete. Some manufacturers have gone so far as to include “wear” parts in their product control systems, by adding logic functions to those parts.
To uphold the principles of a competitive market, a cornerstone of our thriving economy, Right to Repair laws must be expanded. Legislation is a blunt instrument, so we will need additional safeguards to assure our future.
Willie Cade is a tireless advocate for the right of consumers, independent servicers, farmers and others to perform their own product and equipment repairs outside the constraints of OEMs, with ready access to required tools, parts and documentation. Follow him on X at @WillieCade7.
