Modelling production processes in a vehicle recycling plant

The European Directive on end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) fundamentally changed the business philosophy of the European vehicle recycling system, which was exclusively profit-oriented. As the dominant participants of this system, vehicle recycling plants (VRPs) are especially affected by its implementation. For VRPs to successfully respond to the prescribed eco-efficiency quotas, investment will be needed to procure modern sorting equipment as well as to achieve full transformation of their production process. However, before VRPs decide to make this very important investment decision, it is necessary to determine the adequacy of such a decision in detail. Consequently, the following questions become unavoidable: Can modernly equipped VRPs conduct profitable business? Are eco-efficiency quotas actually attainable? How will the new changes in vehicle design influence VRPs? To provide answers to these essential questions, a production planning model of a modernly equipped VRP was first developed and then tested extensively using real data. Based on the answers provided by the proposed model testing analysis it was concluded that VRP transformation is not only necessary but completely justified and that the final success of the ELV Directive is realistic.

[1]  Gareth Coates,et al.  Modelling of post-fragmentation waste stream processing within UK shredder facilities. , 2009, Waste management.

[2]  Milorad Vidovic,et al.  A novel covering approach to positioning ELV collection points , 2011 .

[3]  Xiuli Qu,et al.  Production , Manufacturing and Logistics An automotive bulk recycling planning model , 2006 .

[4]  Anshuman Khare,et al.  Economic issues in recycling end-of-life vehicles , 2000 .

[5]  Markus A. Reuter,et al.  The time-varying factors influencing the recycling rate of products , 2004 .

[6]  Kuan-chung Chen,et al.  The development and prospects of the end-of-life vehicle recycling system in Taiwan. , 2010, Waste management.

[7]  Xiuli Qu,et al.  An analytical model for reverse automotive production planning and pricing , 2008, Eur. J. Oper. Res..

[8]  John W. Sutherland,et al.  Sustainability of the automotive recycling infrastructure: review of current research and identification of future challenges , 2008 .

[9]  William K Townend.  Metal recycling, the environment and human health , 2011, Waste management & research : the journal of the International Solid Wastes and Public Cleansing Association, ISWA.

[10]  Surendra M. Gupta,et al.  Economic Consequences of Increasing Polymer Content for the U.S. Automobile Recycling Infrastructure , 1997 .

[11]  S. Gupta,et al.  Economic Impact of Aluminum‐Intensive Vehicles on the U.S. Automotive Recycling Infrastructure , 2000 .

[12]  P. Ferrão,et al.  Assessing the economics of auto recycling activities in relation to European Union Directive on end of life vehicles , 2006 .

[13]  S. Gupta,et al.  End‐of‐Life Infrastructure Economics for “Clean Vehicles” in the United States , 2003 .

[14]  M. H. Wang,et al.  Evaluation policies and automotive recovery options according to the European Union Directive on end-of-life vehicles (ELV) , 2002 .