Product design for remanufacturing

Abstract

Previous research studies have indicated that barriers to the remanufacturing process can be traced to the initial product design stage, and these have ignited the concept of Design for Remanufacturing (DfRem) as a much pursued design activity. In this chapter, the definition and scope of DfRem activities are firstly introduced to provide the readers with an understanding of the topic. Next, a review on the design tools and methodologies for DfRem is presented. Five DfRem approaches have been identified and the strengths and limitations associated with each approach are analyzed. Although various tools and methodologies have been proposed for DfRem, few of them have been adopted by the industry. Therefore, a study on the factors that can help successful integration of DfRem into product development has been conducted. The identified factors are explained and organized according to the impact they have on different product development stages. Finally, future research activities and directions for DfRem are suggested for promoting the remanufacturing industry.