ReSICLED: a new recovery-conscious design method for complex products based on a multicriteria assessment of the recoverability

Abstract

Significant improvements in end-of-life complex product recovery can be accomplished when recovery aspects are better integrated at the design stage of products. This paper introduces a new method that should allow design teams to produce better recovery-conscious designs, i.e. to integrate the complexity and the variability of recovery routes and to make recoverability more tangible to designers. The main methodological aspects of the new method are presented based on an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of existing methods. In particular, the original multiprocess modelling of recovery scenarios and the original quantitative, multicriteria and multiscenario assessment of the recoverability of a product are detailed. On the basis of the assessment results, a design team is able to suggest design improvements. The implementation of the new method is simulated in real industrial practice. It is shown how the use of the method can bring significant gains in the product’s recoverability. Assets and drawbacks of the method are discussed.