A simple system dynamics model of a traditional/closed loop supply chain system is investigated. Particularly, the effect of remanufacture, remanufacturing lead-time and the return rate on the inventory variance and bullwhip effect were studied. Our results clearly showed that the bullwhip in the closed loop supply chain is bigger than one in traditional supply chain and foreign to the collecti...

In this chapter we look at the strategic issue facing firms regarding whether or not to remanufacture their used products. We identify some direct costs of remanufacturing as well as some opportunity costs that should be included in a firm’s decision to remanufacture or support the secondary market of remanufactured products. We also explore how this decision may change under different competit...

Remanufacture strategy has been broadly applied to curb the environmental impacts of waste from discarded products. The strategy strives for waste reduction by promoting reutilisation and service life extension of end-of-life products. However, challenged by fast changing technologies and fashions, to rebuild a product just “as it is (or was)” often falls short in making it favourable in the ma...

This paper emphasizes remanufacturing as an end-of-life option and the effects of fastening and joining methods on remanufacture. Three case studies describe examples of fastening and joining that facilitate assembly and recycling but impede remanufacturing. To illustrate the impact of fastening choices on remanufacture relative to other life-cycle concerns, the development of a computer tool t...

Manufacturers often face a choice of whether to recover the value in their end-of-life products through remanufacturing. In many cases, firms choose not to remanufacture, as they are (rightly) concerned that the remanufactured product will cannibalize sales of the higher-margin new product. However, such a strategy may backfire for manufacturers operating in industries where their end-of-life p...

This paper reports our initial study of the remanufacturing process of an organization, with a special focus on the role and nature of the information involved. As a first step, we trace a key physical aircraft component, an aircraft fuel pump, throughout the process of remanufacture. We apply an information product perspective to guide the tracing of information relevant to all physical parts,...

This paper summarizes our progress in using probabilistic methods to enable both singledomain and multiple-domain considerations in lifecycle design. As an example of a single-domain application, a probability-based reliability model that describes the effect of remanufacture on the reliability of parts and systems is outlined and experimentally verified. This reliability model is applied to fa...

The asymmetrical genesis problem concerns why the universe should have an abundance of matter over antimatter. This paper shows how the baryogenesis and leptogenesis asymmetries may both be resolved. The solution is given in terms of the transformation of particles under a set of remanufacturing processes. Specific predictions are given for these processes in terms of the discrete field structu...