Diagnosing remanufacture potential at product-component level: A disassemblability and integrity approach

Abstract

The remanufacture of products is emerging as a key strategy in the circular economy, primarily due to its role in extending product lifespans and conserving product value. The efficiency of this process relies heavily on accurately determining the remanufacturability of products, especially at the component level. The article introduces the Remanufacturing Potential Index (RemPI) to address this issue. This diagnostic tool is based on two main characteristics: i) disassemblability, which is the ability of a product to be dismantled, and ii) integrity, referring to its physical condition upon return. Notably, RemPI provides a robust understanding by weighing the functional importance of each component in the remanufacturing process. Contributions of this research include: a detailed remanufacturability assessment at the component level, highlighting its role in the overall assembly; and a focus on balancing disassemblability with integrity, providing insights for potential product redesigns. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is validated through two case studies.