A Bi-Level fuzzy analytical decision support tool for assessing product remanufacturability. (10th February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Omwando, Thomas A.; Otieno, Wilkistar A.; Farahani, Sajjad; Ross, Anthony D.
• Is Part Of: Journal of cleaner production. Volume 174(2018)
• Page Start: 1534
• Page End: 1549
• Publication Date: 2018-02-10
• Subjects: Remanufacturing -- Fuzzy logic -- Fuzzy inference ssystem -- Decision support -- Control drives; Factory and trade waste -- Management -- Periodicals; Manufactures -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Déchets industriels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Usines -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; 628.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.11.050
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-6526

Abstract

Abstract: Remanufacturing as an end-of-life disposal option poses challenges due to product and process complexities, customer requirements, and uncertainties associated with product take back and the remanufactured products' market-base. To address these challenges, this study presents a decision support system based on a bi-level fuzzy computing approach that incorporates qualitative and quantitative product attributes in determining the remanufacturability of a product. The model uses fuzzy inference approach in assessing four key performance metrics herein referred to as sub models, namely; technological, economic, resource utilization and environmental metrics that influence product remanufacturability. The four sub-models are then aggregated to establish a unified fuzzy-based remanufacturability index. The model is applied to assess the remanufacturability of two control drive families manufactured by a multi-national company as case examples in this paper. The study shows that one of the control drives, which is larger in size, has been ten years in the market, has a higher percentage of billable returns and thus not relatively labor restrictive, has a higher remanufacturability index of 0.662. The second product, which is relatively small, has been in the market for less than five years, has a higher proportion of returns under warranty and thus labor restrictive, has a lower remanufacturability index of 0.448. The proposed model is versatile for comparing families of product and can therefore aid in making tactical decisions regarding product remanufacture.