Redefining Manufacturing in Industries
– Dr Farazee Asif, Asst Professor, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden
In our research spanning over 15 years, we’ve delved into Circular Manufacturing Systems, closely tied to the concept of circular economy. Essentially, our team’s focus is to aid manufacturing industries in their transition towards circular practices.
Recycling results in loss of embedded value…
Traditionally, industrial practices operated under the assumption of infinite resources and unrestricted disposal. However, with the alarming depletion of resources and escalating climate change impacts, we’ve reached a critical juncture. Recycling has been a common strategy employed by manufacturers. While it has merits, it falls short in terms of resource conservation too. For instance, when recycling a product, we often lose a significant portion of its embedded value, which includes labour, energy and other resources invested during manufacturing and logistics. Moreover, the process of recycling requires additional resources.
Maximising value…
In contrast, our concept of circular manufacturing emphasises a more comprehensive approach. When a product reaches its end-of-life, we advocate for returning it to its place of origin for potential reuse and remanufacturing before resorting to recycling. This approach enables the recovery of more value, leading to reduced resource input and waste output.
The need for remanufacturing
Within the circular economy discourse, various “Rs” are discussed, ranging from refuse to consume to recover value. We advocate for remanufacturing as it strikes a balance between customer acceptance and technical quality. Remanufacturing ensures that products retain their quality in their second life, addressing concerns regarding the use of secondhand or inferior products.
Fostering sustainable practices
Implementing such a system requires a well-planned approach, encompassing value proposition models, product design and supply chain management, supported by information and communication technology. We’ve applied this framework in our EU-funded project “RECIPPS.”
To ensure the success, we emphasise the intentional design of products for reuse, remanufacturing and recycling from the outset. Scaling up implementation to industrial levels across a wide range of products is crucial for realising its benefits. Additionally, maintaining a balance between economic viability and environmental sustainability is paramount.
Our project, “RECIPPS,” received recognition as a success story by the European Commission, highlighting its significance in advancing sustainable industrial practices. This comprehensive approach underscores our commitment to redefining sustainability in the manufacturing industry through Circular Manufacturing Systems.
