Component Recoverability Analysis in Product Design Using System Dynamic Modelling

Abstract

The fundamental objective of the research is to develop a system that analyses component recoverability at the product design stage using two separate tools, namely, a system dynamic model (SDM) and the recoverability factor formula. Engineers can utilise both the SDM and recoverability factor formula at the design stage to develop eco-friendly products. Both the SDM and the recoverability factor enable engineers to optimise their products from the resource recovery perspective. The SDM built using Vensim PLE provides a visual representation of the resource and energy consumptions and financial aspects of the component production, recovery, and disposal. The recoverability factor measures various aspects of the product design from a static standpoint by examining the product’s physical design which includes material compatibility, disassembly complexity, geometric positioning of each component, time taken for disassembly, depth factor, generic factor through Standard Component Index (SCI), and energy consumption improvement (ECI). The novelty of this research is that it has two different aspects to it. The recoverability factor provides with an index to measure how recoverable the product is, regardless of the cost or end-of-life (EOL) strategies. The SDM provides a clear view of how sustainable the design is over time with consideration of not just the environmental effect but also the financial impact on the manufacturer. The recoverability factor is generic and can be used for any types of product made from any materials in any industry, whereas precedent studies focused more on specific products, e.g. automotive, footwear, and electronic and electrical equipment (EEE).