Remanufacturing and product design: designing for the 7th generation

The following is taken directly from the research report. This report investigates Design for Remanufacture in terms of both detailed product design and the business context in which Design for Remanufacture may operate. Key Study Objectives • To understand the link between design and remanufacture • To understand how Design for Remanufacture can lead to increased innovation and Sustainable Development (SD) • To identify proactive strategies to further Design for Remanufactur

Strategic operations framework for disassembly in remanufacturing

Studies on disassembly for remanufacturing using strategic perspectives have been overlooked in current studies. This research uses a strategic approach to examine how product, process and organisational designs affect disassembly strategies for different remanufacturer types. Three companies consisting of two automotive and one jet engine remanufacturer were selected as subjects. A case study approach using qualitative data was adopted to examine how remanufacturers design their disassembly strategies. The analysis revealed that the two major factors influencing disassembly strategies are product complexity and the stability of core supply. It also determined and grouped the factors that affect disassembly within remanufacturing

A review of the state of the art in tools and techniques used to evaluate remanufacturing feasibility

Remanufacturing often seems a sensible approach for companies looking to adopt sustainable business plans to achieve long term success. However, remanufacturing must not be treated as a panacea for achieving a sustainable business, as issues such as market demand, product design, end of life condition and information uncertainty can affect the success of a remanufacturing endeavour. Businesses therefore need to carefully assess the feasibility of adopting remanufacturing before committing to a particular activity or strategy. To aid this decision process, a number of tools and techniques have been published by academics. However, there is currently not a formal review and comparison of these tools and how they relate to the decision process. The main research objective of this study has therefore been to identify tools and methods which have been developed within academia to support the decision process of assessing and evaluating the viability of conducting remanufacturing, and evaluate how they have met the requirements of the decision stage. This has been achieved by conducting a content analysis. Three bibliographic databases were searched (Compendex, Web of Science and Scopus) using a structured keyword search to identify relevant literature. The identified tools were then split into 6 categories based upon the specific decision stages and applications, then evaluated against a set of key criteria which are, the decision factors (economic, environmental, social) and the inclusion of uncertainty. The key finding of this study has been that although decision factors are generally well covered, operational tools and the use of uncertainty are often neglected

Remanufacturing and product design

This article is the result of long-standing research in eco-design, and builds directly on a report produced in 2007 for South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) on 'Remanufacturing and Production' and particularly 'Design for Remanufacturing' (DfR). Although DfR is an under-researched area, there is growing interest worldwide in 'cradle to cradle', 'closed loop' and 'circular economy' concepts, thinking and practice. While remanufacture has been a consideration of much of my research since the mid-1990s, not least within the areas of 'producer responsibility', legislation (such as the WEEE Directive) and eco-design, this article draws together a diverse body of research for the first time around this theme. Drawing on desk research, personal interviews and an expert workshop, undertaken as part of the aforementioned SEEDA project that I developed and led, the article focuses on DfR as a new business model that needs to incorporate a more holistic perspective, including design principles, reverse logistics, manufacturing, marketing and business strategy. On the basis of research undertaken through two DTI missions and an EC funded project concerned with eco-design, recycling, and electronics manufacture in Japan, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, the paper argues that DfR is a strategic rather than an operational design concept, one that has been implemented successfully by only a few global leadership companies. As the senior researcher, I led the conception, structuring and writing of this paper based substantially on my personal research activities, previous reports and presentations in this area. My co-author provided specific details derived from desk research

Eras of value production in the built environment: Extracting principles from past practice

This paper reviews historical approaches to the consideration of value in the built environment. It identifies the central tenets of chronological eras of value consideration that highlight shifts in its understanding and articulation to synthesis a premise for the comprehensive consideration of value in any socially-complex, single-product project environment. The review identifies a shift in institutional logics framing the consideration of value, with early logics seeking value in product qualities, before evolving to consider value within the processes of product or organisational design. Current dominant logics seek value by synthesising mutual understanding of value within groups of people, while future logics are starting to adopt an intergenerational, protectionist perspective. This sequence of logics is characterised as: product, process, people, protection

Skills and capabilities for a sustainable and circular economy: The changing role of design

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via the DOI in this recordImplementing practices for a circular economy transforms the way companies do business, notably in the manufacturing industry. However, a circular economy requires a transformation of both production and consumption systems; the standard approach for creation, fabrication, and commerce of products is challenged. Authors repeatedly call for the development of new proficiencies to attend to system transformations, but these so far have not been described for design and engineering. Given that the design of a product directly influences the way a value chain will be managed, building circular, globally sustainable value chains inevitably signifies a fundamental change in the practice of design. Comprehensive analyses were conducted on case studies from a variety of multinational enterprises that are transforming their product strategies for climate change. Changes in design processes were identified, revealing a growing necessity for industry to employ new proficiencies that support closure of material loops. This paper contributes to existing literature by depicting successful practices being implemented in industry. A variety of new capabilities are key to design for a sustainable future; these range from deeper knowledge of material composition to rich understanding of social behaviour. Resulting from this research, learning goals are proposed to serve as guidance for manufacturing companies seeking to tackle climate change. Conclusions aim to encourage researchers and academics to respond to emerging needs by re-thinking education in design and engineering.Mexican National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT

Skills and capabilities for a sustainable and circular economy: The changing role of design

Implementing practices for a circular economy transforms the way companies do business, notably in the manufacturing industry. However, a circular economy requires a transformation of both production and consumption systems; the standard approach for creation, fabrication, and commerce of products is challenged. Authors repeatedly call for the development of new proficiencies to attend to system transformations, but these so far have not been described for design and engineering. Given that the design of a product directly influences the way a value chain will be managed, building circular, globally sustainable value chains inevitably signifies a fundamental change in the practice of design. Comprehensive analyses were conducted on case studies from a variety of multinational enterprises that are transforming their product strategies for climate change. Changes in design processes were identified, revealing a growing necessity for industry to employ new proficiencies that support closure of material loops. This paper contributes to existing literature by depicting successful practices being implemented in industry. A variety of new capabilities are key to design for a sustainable future; these range from deeper knowledge of material composition to rich understanding of social behaviour. Resulting from this research, learning goals are proposed to serve as guidance for manufacturing companies seeking to tackle climate change. Conclusions aim to encourage researchers and academics to respond to emerging needs by re-thinking education in design and engineering