IREDA: An Integrated Methodology for Product Recyclability and End-of-life Design

This paper presents a methodically structured design model for achieving a comprehensive improvement of product recyclability. The framework of this model consists of four design phases, integrating the prediction of product end-of-life strategy, the formation of modular structure, the selection of materials and fasteners, and the recyclability evaluation of design alternatives. The four phases are hierarchically organised in the body of the framework for a stepwise implementation, which are corresponding to the processes of generic engineering design at the stages of planning and task clarification, conceptual design and embodiment design. Fuzzy sets and graph theory are jointly applied as the basic techniques to formulate the methods for end-of-life strategy planning and structure modularisation. An air-conditioning system is used as an example to demonstrate the application of the proposed design model and its effectiveness in improving the recyclability of a product.

[1]  W. L. Ijomah,et al.  Remanufacturing: evidence of environmentally conscious business practice in the UK , 1999, Proceedings First International Symposium on Environmentally Conscious Design and Inverse Manufacturing.

[2]  L. H. Shu,et al.  Considering remanufacture and other end-of-life options in selection of fastening and joining methods , 1995, Proceedings of the 1995 IEEE International Symposium on Electronics and the Environment ISEE (Cat. No.95CH35718).

[3]  J. R. Kirby,et al.  Designing business machines for disassembly and recycling , 1993, Proceedings of the 1993 IEEE International Symposium on Electronics and the Environment.

[4]  Kwang-Kyu Seo,et al.  Recycling cell formation using group technology for disposal products , 1999, Proceedings First International Symposium on Environmentally Conscious Design and Inverse Manufacturing.

[5]  Jens Brøbech Legarth.  Environmental decision making for recycling options , 1997 .

[6]  Bruce Paton,et al.  Market considerations in the reuse of electronic products , 1994, Proceedings of 1994 IEEE International Symposium on Electronics and The Environment.

[7]  D. W. Rosen,et al.  Life cycle modularity metrics for product design , 2003, 2003 EcoDesign 3rd International Symposium on Environmentally Conscious Design and Inverse Manufacturing.

[8]  Kosuke Ishii,et al.  Design for product retirement and material life-cycle , 1994 .

[9]  Hans-Jürgen Zimmermann,et al.  Fuzzy Set Theory - and Its Applications , 1985 .

[10]  Z. Binder,et al.  Evolutionary informatic process model for exploitation of worn-out products , 1999, IEEE SMC'99 Conference Proceedings. 1999 IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics (Cat. No.99CH37028).

[11]  Rosy Wei Chen,et al.  A cost-benefit analysis model of product design for recyclability and its application , 1994 .

[12]  K. Masui,et al.  Development of products embedded disassembly process based on end-of-life strategies , 1999, Proceedings First International Symposium on Environmentally Conscious Design and Inverse Manufacturing.

[13]  E. Kay,et al.  Graph Theory. An Algorithmic Approach , 1975 .

[14]  Hans Mayer,et al.  Characterization of Products , 1996 .

[15]  Hideki Kobayashi,et al.  A framework of eco-design support , 1999, Proceedings First International Symposium on Environmentally Conscious Design and Inverse Manufacturing.

[16]  Guo Q. Huang,et al.  Design for X : concurrent engineering imperatives , 1996 .

[17]  Wolfgang Beitz,et al.  Engineering Design: A Systematic Approach , 1984 .

[18]  Günther Seliger,et al.  Grouping of Used Products for Cellular Recycling Systems , 1995 .

[19]  W. B. Seaver.  Design considerations for remanufacturability, recyclability and reusability of user interface modules , 1994, Proceedings of 1994 IEEE International Symposium on Electronics and The Environment.

[20]  Xueqing Qian,et al.  Design for environment: an environmental analysis model for the modular design of products , 2003, IEEE International Symposium on Electronics and the Environment, 2003..

[21]  Leigh Holloway,et al.  Incorporating environmental principles into the design process , 1994 .

[22]  Hong-Chao Zhang,et al.  A quantitative approach in environmentally conscious product design support , 1999, Proceedings of the 1999 IEEE International Symposium on Electronics and the Environment (Cat. No.99CH36357).

[23]  G.N. Mohan Babu,et al.  An integrated conceptual model of relationships among different types of innovations , 1997, Innovation in Technology Management. The Key to Global Leadership. PICMET '97.

[24]  Raymond T Yeh,et al.  FUZZY RELATIONS, FUZZY GRAPHS, AND THEIR APPLICATIONS TO CLUSTERING ANALYSIS , 1975 .

[25]  H. Zimmermann,et al.  Fuzzy Set Theory and Its Applications , 1993 .

[26]  Tsai C. Kuo,et al.  Disassembly analysis for electromechanical products: A graph-based heuristic approach , 2000 .

[27]  Michael E. Henstock,et al.  Design for recyclability , 1988 .

[28]  J. Chiodo,et al.  Active disassembly using shape memory polymers for the mobile phone industry , 1999, Proceedings of the 1999 IEEE International Symposium on Electronics and the Environment (Cat. No.99CH36357).

[29]  Geoffrey Boothroyd,et al.  Product design for manufacture and assembly , 1994, Comput. Aided Des..

[30]  Thomas E. Graedel,et al.  Design for the Environment , 1996 .

[31]  J. R. Kirby,et al.  Factors affecting product end-of-life management (PELM) opportunities , 1995, Proceedings of the 1995 IEEE International Symposium on Electronics and the Environment ISEE (Cat. No.95CH35718).

[32]  Sanchoy K. Das,et al.  Use of snap-fit fasteners in the multi-life-cycle design of products , 1999, Proceedings of the 1999 IEEE International Symposium on Electronics and the Environment (Cat. No.99CH36357).

[33]  C. M. Rose,et al.  A new approach to end-of-life design advisor (ELDA) , 2000, Proceedings of the 2000 IEEE International Symposium on Electronics and the Environment (Cat. No.00CH37082).

[34]  George Q. Huang.  Design for X , 1996 .

[35]  B. H. Lee,et al.  Demanufacturing complexity metrics in design for recyclability , 1997, Proceedings of the 1997 IEEE International Symposium on Electronics and the Environment. ISEE-1997.

[36]  Li Fangyi.  A Study on Fuzzy AHP Method in Green Modularity Design , 2000 .

[37]  D. T. Staffiere.  Designing product for the environment , 1995, Proceedings of 1995 IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition - APEC'95.