Evaluating remanufacturing and demanufacturing for extended producer responsibility and sustainable product management.

摘要

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) was initiated as a policy principle in literature in the early 1990's in Europe and over the last decade, this concept has transformed into numerous legislative proposals and mandates in 16 countries across the globe. EPR requires the manufacturer or “producer” of the product to take financial responsibility for a product's post-consumer stage—after the product is no longer useful. EPR forces producers to manage the life-cycle sustainability of their manufactured products, with a particular emphasis on strategies of recovery and recycling as opposed to the disposal of products.; This dissertation presents two novel techniques that have not been previously addressed in literature. Both techniques have been developed to aid manufacturers and policy makers with the evaluation and implementation of sustainable practices for EPR. The first area of research demonstrates a methodology for evaluating product remanufacturability. Product Remanufacturability is defined in this research as the degree to which a retired or worn product can be rebuilt economically as opposed to demanufacturing parts for retirement. The purpose of developing the methodology is twofold: (1) to explore the economic feasibility of remanufacturing versus demanufacturing the product at its end-of-life, and (2) to gauge possible environmental benefits that result from remanufacturing. This methodology also provides a technique to evaluate remanufacturing uncertainty and its impact on economical and environmental metrics of remanufacturing.; The second area of research focuses on the recently ratified EPR policy called “The European Union's (EU) Directive on End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs)”. This section of research presents an innovative mathematical model that allows producers and policy makers the ability to evaluate the current legislative policy requirements of the EU Directive with respect to ELV management. This analysis tool allows a manufacturer to evaluate, test and optimize the economics of demanufacturing ELVs within the requirements of the newly mandated ELV Directive. The results of the study provide insight into the future problems and opportunities that will be brought forth by the new Directive. Both areas of research have been developed through collaborating with industry partners.