Despite remanufacturing being a value-retention process capable of bringing both economic and environmental benefits to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), the remanufacturing market is small, and the OEM share on the market is even smaller. There are trends in OEMs hesitating to initiate remanufacturing due to the lack of knowledge or often unjustified assumptions about how remanufacturing affects their business-as-usual. To further motivate OEMs to initiate remanufacturing, there is a need to extend the remanufacturing initiation theory to showcase how remanufacturing could be initiated in practice. Therefore, this paper aims to describe a remanufacturing initiation and demonstrate the initiation steps for OEMs by developing a remanufacturing initiation framework. The framework is developed based on a remanufacturing initiation led by an OEM of robotic lawn mowers. Based on the case study, a 5-step approach for initiating remanufacturing (5AFIR) framework—the remanufacturing sapphire—was developed to interpret and visualise the remanufacturing approach taken at the studied OEM. The framework steps consist of the following: (1) Select a product family, (2) involve actors prone to be impacted by remanufacturing, (3) iteratively identify prerequisites and assess the system performance, (4) develop a plan and industrialise remanufacturing, and (5) refine and validate the assessment in Step 3.

Remanufacturing has been studied extensively from an economic modelling perspective. However, the number of studies focusing on models that consider the implementation difficulties in industry, such as data availability and model transparency, is low in comparison. This paper aims to identify how an initiation of remanufacturing can be economically assessed with models particularly suitable for implementation in industry. These models should contribute to spreading the know-how about initiating remanufacturing to transit industries towards more circular resource flows. To target the aim, a systematic literature review was conducted. The search resulted in a total of 964 papers published through August 2021. The relevant papers were categorised into a two-dimensional framework indicating the level of computer support needed to handle the model and the level of requirements to use the model in terms of data requirements, both of which are considered essential in the industrial implementation of the models. The review revealed a further need for research on assessing remanufacturing initiation profitability, especially on economic assessment models designed to assist industries without previous remanufacturing knowledge in such an initiation.

The remanufacturing activities on the market are increasing as more companies follow the trend of applying resource-efficient solutions. This trend is also seen among original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) when closing their resource flows. However, as there are few descriptions of how OEMs initiate remanufacturing in practice, there is also little guidance for them to follow. Therefore, to support OEMs in initiating remanufacturing, the aim of this paper is to describe areas investigated during a remanufacturing initiation. This is conducted by studying an OEM of robotic lawn mowers without prior remanufacturing experience and then describing the undertaken journey from primarily producing new products to also offering remanufactured products. The study describes four areas of investigation at the OEM: (1) Select products for remanufacturing, (2) develop the remanufacturing process, (3) determine the quality of remanufactured products, and (4) perform sales activities. These areas are elaborated on to show the considerations of the OEM during the initiation. Based on the findings, the importance of viewing the remanufacturing initiation phases as a system of parallel activities rather than a linear chain is emphasised for future development of guiding remanufacturing initiation frameworks.

Remanufacturing has been modelled extensively from an economic perspective. However, there are relatively few studies focusing on models that consider the implementation difficulties in industry, such as data availability and model transparency. This paper aims to identify how remanufacturing initiations can be economically assessed with models particularly suitable for industry. These models should contribute to disseminating the know-how about initiating remanufacturing to transit industries towards more circular product flows. To fulfil this aim, a systematic literature review was conducted. The search resulted in a total of 964 papers published till August 2021. The results show that assessment models could be categorised into a two-dimensional framework indicating the level of computer support needed to handle the models and the level of data requirements to use the models, both of which are considered essential in the industrial implementation of the models. The review revealed and structured a further need for research on assessing remanufacturing initiation profitability, especially on economic assessment models designed to assist industries without previous remanufacturing knowledge in such an initiation.

The Cambodian economy is growing significantly causing the local car fleet to follow. Consequently, the need for car spare parts is steadily increasing. Unlike other regions inthe world, like Europe, North America and some Asian countries, automotive partremanufacturing in Cambodia has hardly been practised nor analyzed. This research aimsto study the awareness and perception of car owners in Cambodia of remanufactured carparts as alternatives to new spare parts. To reach this aim, primary data was collected toinvestigate the knowledge and the perception of remanufactured car parts amongtowards alternatives to new spare parts (e.g., remanufactured parts). The 425 validresponses from Cambodians were analyzed with descriptive statistics. Evaluating theresponses show, that 70% of respondents were aware of remanufacturing, but theirperception is mostly negative. More than half perceive remanufactured automotive parts asinferior to new counterparts. When being offered alternatives to new parts without using the term 'remanufactured' the willingness to buy is higher than when using the term.

Maintenance aims to ensure the availability and reliability of equipment so that production processes keep operations, and products sustain with good qualities. However, maintenance decisions rely essentially on the distribution of product’s lifetime. For instance, professional users may use machine tools intensively, whereas as hobby users, the usage of same tools is much less frequent. This variability poses a challenge for companies when adopting product-service offerings, as the maintenance policies should differ to minimise the number of unexpected failures as well as the product life cycle usage costs. This study investigates the identification of customer usage behaviour groups in mixed Weibull distributed product failure datasets. The study proposes an algorithmic model using the Weibull moments to distinguish the underlying Weibull distribution in a mixed distribution. The developed knowledge defines whether customer usage data needs to be distinguished between groups.

The efficiency of using critical raw materials (CRMs) needs to be increased urgently in light of a circular economy (CE). This conference paper describes the benefits, current challenges, enablers, and needed research regarding product-as-a-service (PaaS) for CRMs in the context of a CE. In particular, it will analyse PaaS with electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) in the home appliance sector from five relevant perspectives: design, remanufacturing, recycling, costing, and regulations. Based on a literature review and analysis, important topics are documented, for instance, user-centred design, user behaviour, reverse logistics, cost assessment and allocation, use of Industry 4.0 technologies, and governmental regulations. Also, the importance of systemic innovation is pointed out. 

Återtillverkning är en industriell process där en stomme – en använd, uttjänt, eller trasig produkt – omformas till en produkt vars specifikation och kvalitet motsvarar nyskick. Men återtillverkning utgör endast en liten del av den totala tillverkningsindustrin. Inom återtillverkning finns det flera typer av återtillverkare; den ovanligaste är originaltillverkande återtillverkare, det vill säga, ett tillverkande företag som även återtillverkar sina egna produkter. Genom att det idag är en låg grad av återtillverkning bland originaltillverkare finns det utrymme för att verka för en ökning. Ökade återtillverkningsaktiviteter kan bidra till miljömässiga fördelar genom att nya produkter ersätts med återtillverkade motsvarigheter. Detta bidrag uppstår genom en reduktion av mängden råmaterial och energi som konsumeras i förhållande till nytillverkning. Det finns därför en möjlighet för återtillverkning att bidra till en frikoppling av miljömässig påverkan från ekonomisk tillväxt, vilket i sin tur bidrar till ett mer hållbart samhälle. Fast att endast värdera nyttan av återtillverkning leder inte direkt till en tillväxt inom återtillverkningsindustrin. För att omfamna de miljömässiga, sociala, och ekonomiska nyttor som återtillverkning kan bidra med måste originaltillverkare vara medvetna om hur återtillverkning kan initieras och implementeras i praktiken på ett ekonomiskt lönsamt sätt. Syftet med denna licentiatavhandling är därför att utforska hur originaltillverkare kan initiera lönsam återtillverkning.

Denna forskning utgår från en fallstudie vid en originaltillverkare där möjligheterna för lönsam återtillverkning studeras. Den tillämpade fallstudien bidrog till att utveckla kunskap om hur återtillverkning kan integreras i en originaltillverkares befintliga försörjningskedja. Parallellt med fallstudien utvecklades analytiska ekonomiska värderingsmodeller för att tillhandahålla ett mått på hur väl fallföretaget skulle kunna utföra återtillverkning. I samband med detta utvecklades sju återtillverkningsscenarion. Dessa innefattar centraliserad återtillverkning som utförs av originaltillverkaren och decentraliserad återtillverkning som utförs vid flertalet platser inom ett återförsäljarnätverk. Vilket scenario som är mest fördelaktigt beror exempelvis på riskmedvetenhet, samarbete mellan aktörer, och tillverkningsvolym. Men givet ideala förhållanden visades det att centraliserad återtillverkning är mest fördelaktigt för originaltillverkaren, eftersom färre mellanhänder och skalfördelar möjliggör lägre kostnader.

De sju återtillverkningsscenariona baserades på åtta förutsättningsfaktorer som utvecklades för att forma krav för hur originaltillverkare kan initiera återtillverkning. Dessa faktorer delas upp i grundläggande och stödjande förutsättningsfaktorer, och de bygger tillsammans upp ett ramverk benämnt återtillverkningsraketen. De grundläggande faktorerna lyfter fram elementära krav vid utförandet av återtillverkning. Om en av de fyra grundläggande faktorerna skulle saknas kan återtillverkning inte utföras på ett framgångsrikt sätt. De stödjande faktorerna kan i större utsträckning utelämnas, men de är av värde för att förbättra återtillverkningseffektiviteten genom exempelvis bekymmersfritt utförande av processer, organisationsförändringar, eller informationsutbyten. Därigenom, för att nå den fulla potentialen av återtillverkning, behövs både de grundläggande och de stödjande förutsättningsfaktorerna.

Slutligen, som ett svar på avhandlingens syfte, föreslås det att tillämpa de framtagna förutsättningsfaktorerna tillsammans med en ekonomisk värdering genom att iterativt undersöka möjligheterna för hur återtillverkning kan initieras för originaltillverkare. De grundläggande förutsättningsfaktorerna influerar upplägget för den första iterationen av den ekonomiska värderingen, vilken i sin tur nyttjas för att förfina hur de grundläggande faktorerna kan läggas samman på ett ekonomiskt fördelaktigt sätt. När en godtagbar nivå uppnåtts kan ytterligare en iterativ process utföras mellan de stödjande förutsättningsfaktorerna och den ekonomiska värderingen. Genom att tillämpa det föreslagna tillvägagångssättet kan möjligheterna för återtillverkning undersökas på en detaljerad nivå innan initieringsförsök i praktiken, och således kan mängden resurser reduceras som annars hade konsumerats förgäves. Utöver detta integrerades det iterativa tillvägagångssättet med en femstegsansats för initiering av återtillverkning (5AFIR) för att vägleda originaltillverkare mot lönsam initiering av återtillverkning. Genom att tillämpa denna ansats visades det att fallföretaget skulle kunna initiera lönsam återtillverkning.

An integration of remanufacturing into an original equipment manufacturer’s (OEM) value chain can enhance circularity. In order to realize a transition towards circularity, it must be economically beneficial. This paper aims to compare and economically evaluate several remanufacturing scenarios with varied retailer involvement, to identify how an electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) manufacturer can perform remanufacturing profitably. To meet the aim of this paper, data was gathered through more than 50 semi-structured and unstructured interviews, including workshops with a robotic lawn mower manufacturer and eight of its retailers in Sweden, and through a literature review in the fields of remanufacturing, acquisition of cores (used products), and sales of remanufactured products. The scenarios consist of a decentralized, with minor or no involvement of an OEM, and six centralized, where an OEM manages remanufacturing. Here, looking at a case of the centralized scenario, the remanufacturing process is performed at the OEM manufacturing plant in a European low-wage country, while cores are acquired in Sweden. This research concludes that the OEM’s economic benefits are greater in remanufacturing scenarios with low involvement of retailers. However, succeeding with acquisition and sales without retailers requires establishing new retail channels, which also leads to uncertainties.

Global manufacturing industry is undergoing tremendous transformation towards increased sustainability. This vital, industrial sector is rapidly enhancing its capability for resource efficient, circular, and climate neutral processes and business models. Industry is also rapidly recognizing sustainability and resilience measures as competitive advantages and unique selling points. Companies are being both nudged and forced into sustainable, resource-efficient businesses to comply with new demands and regulations from for example the European Commission’s Green Deal and global policy like the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Customer needs as well as government policies and regulations are enforced through e.g. economic bonus and penalty systems, accelerating transformation. This change process is complex, requiring new knowledge and innovation. Therefore, Industrial sustainability is at the core of Produktion2030, the national Swedish Strategic Innovation Programme for manufacturing industry.

The vision of Produktion2030 is to enable a competitive and sustainable Swedish manufacturing industry. Produktion2030 is putting strong efforts into acceleration of the green transformation, creating crossdisciplinary and multi-stakeholder collaboration, increasing national innovation capacity and agility, and driving competence development as well as workforce upskilling. In 2020, the Produktion2030 Programme Office and Supervisory Group commissioned a study to map sustainability achievements within the programme's total product portfolio.

A national group of sustainability experts from Chalmers University of Technology, Linköping University, Royal Institute of Technology, and the institute RISE were invited to analyse all past and present Produktion2030 projects, from sustainability and circular economy perspectives.

This report presents the results from the study, highlighting a selection of contributions to industrial sustainability achieved by Produktion2030 during the programme’s first six years. Data for the study was gathered during the spring of 2020. Representatives from all ongoing and finalised projects within the Produktion2030 programme were invited to an online survey. The objective was to investigate specific project impacts in terms of sustainability and implementation of a circular economy.

Results showed that all Produktion2030 projects had applied at least one dimension of sustainability, economic. Further, 71% of the projects also covered the environmental dimension. Several projects applied sustainability trade-offs, where an improvement within one sustainability dimension affected other dimensions negatively. The UN Sustainable Development Goals #8, #9 and #12, were considered most relevant by the projects. Implementation or inclusion of circular economy was also common (45%) among the projects. Projects adapted circular economy concepts differently, according to their self-defined project scope and system boundaries. Finally, 65 % of the projects implemented Industry 4.0 concepts and digital solutions, to increase and accelerate the sustainability impact. In conclusion, the study of sustainability efforts within the complete portfolio of Produktion2030 projects by 2020 showed that the programme is strongly contributing to the transformation of manufacturing industry in Sweden towards sustainability.

Produktion2030 has a deep, strategic commitment to address the challenges of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This study shows that Produktion2030 also has an excellent transformational capability to deliver research, innovation, and education results that influences sustainability factors. The results strongly support the manufacturing community in Sweden, allowing industry, academia, and institutes to act towards a more sustainable, resilient, and circular society.

The Swedish strategic innovation programme, Produktion2030, is a national long-term effort towards global industrial competitiveness addressing Swedish industry’s transition towards climate goals of the European Green Deal while simultaneously realising smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0 (I4.0). This paper investigated the extent of sustainability implementation and implications of I4.0 technologies through a nation-wide quantitative survey in Produktion2030’s 113 collaborative research projects. The analysis showed that 71% of the assessed projects included environmental aspects, 60% social aspects, and 45% Circular Economy (CE) aspects. Further, 65% of the projects implemented I4.0 technologies to increase overall sustainability. The survey results were compared with literature to understand how I4.0 opportunities helped derive sustainability and CE benefits. This detailed mapping of the results along with eight semi-structured interviews revealed that a majority of the projects implemented I4.0 technologies to improve resource efficiency, reduce waste in operations and incorporate CE practices in business models. The results also showed that Swedish manufacturing is progressing in the right direction of sustainability transition by deriving key resilience capabilities from I4.0-based enablers. Industries should actively adopt these capabilities to address the increasingly challenging and unpredictable sustainability issues arising in the world and for a successful transition towards sustainable manufacturing in a digital future.

As environmental issues attract more concern, shifting towards sustainable manufacturing that includes remanufacturing has become a strategic solution to enable a profitable business while improving environmental performance. The aim of this paper is to investigate the economic feasibility of remanufacturing at different supply chain locations for a robotic lawn mower manufacturer attempting to expand their business. Through a case study, five potential location categories were identified, of which two were deemed economically feasible: spare parts warehouse (OEM) and decentralized (dealers). The other three alternatives were deemed inferior in comparison, or only plausible, but identified as risky through a sensitivity analysis.

The consumption of resources is at an alarmingly high level, and there is a high need for resource-efficient alternatives to manufacturing. Remanufacturing is one way to reduce the use of both materials and energy, while still providing products with a like-new condition. This paper aims to define critical areas to assess when applying remanufacturing to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The research was conducted by interweaving remanufacturing’s role in a circular economy (CE) with a single case study at a robotic lawn mower OEM. The case study was split into three parts that separately investigated customer demand, product design and economic sustainability, respectively, all in the area of remanufacturing. This paper addressed the research gap in OEM strategy towards a CE with remanufacturing, defining five critical areas to assess when applying remanufacturing to OEMs: customer, product, sustainability (economic, environmental and social), business model, and production system. The findings of the paper could be useful for many OEMs willing to shift to a CE with remanufacturing.

Natural resources are being depleted at an alarming rate, also resulting in increased emissions and pollution. The call for a circular economy and sustainable strategies is now louder than ever. Remanufacturing can alleviate our environmental impact while still providing opportunities for profitable business. However, there is a need for a framework detailing the necessary steps for a successful remanufacturing start-up. This paper aims to identify the essential and supportive factors an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) must consider when transitioning part of its business to remanufacturing. Such factors could aid both current actors in the industrial setting as well as make way for further investigations and more advanced frameworks from the scientific field. The task is carried out through a novel combination of prior research on production development and remanufacturing, with support from a case study performed at an electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) manufacturer. This paper concludes that the first essential factors to be addressed when switching orientation towards remanufacturing can be contained in four categories: core acquisition and reverse logistics, labor skill and availability, remanufacturing facilities, and remanufacturing process and technology. Secondary supporting factors include design for remanufacturing and information feedback, remanufacturing process improvements, remanufacturing market knowledge, and organization, planning and control.