Optimal modular remanufactured product configuration and harvesting planning for end-of-life products

Since remanufacturing requires additional processes compared to the production process of new products, various factors need to be considered. First, it is necessary to decide which end-of-life (EoL) product parts/modules to use among the EoL products available for the remanufactured product. At this stage, it is crucial to understand the future customer demand and requirements for each part. Next, it is also necessary to figure out whether selective disassembly is possible to disassemble a specific target component without completely disassembling the product. With the increasing number of product designs that are difficult to disassemble, the disassembly sequence and level should be considered for the efficiency of the overall remanufacturing process. This study proposes an integrated model to (i) find configuration design suitable for remanufactured products that can maximize customer utility based on current EoL products, and (ii) establish a harvest plan that determines the optimal operations and levels. This proposed model can be used as a tool that helps product designers find the appropriate design of remanufactured products while increasing the efficiency of the remanufacturing process.