Sustainability through remanufacturing in India: a case study on mobile handsets

Remanufacturing activities in India are still in nascent stages. However, the substantial growth of Indian economy, coupled with serious issues of population and environmental burden demands a radical shift in market strategies and legislations. The scattered and inefficient product recovery methods prevalent in India are unable to cope with increasing environmental and economic burden on the society - remanufacturing seems to be a promising strategy to explore for these. Our study investigated from a user's context the opportunity of establishing remanufacturing as a formal activity, answering the fundamental questions of whether remanufactured products would be accepted by Indian consumers and how these will fit into the Indian market. The study of the Indian mobile phone market eco-system showed how mobile phones currently move through the value chain, and the importance of the grey and used phone markets in this movement. A prescriptive model has been proposed which utilizes the usage patterns of different consumer groups to create a self-sustainable demand-supply system, potentially complementing frameworks such as the Automotive Remanufacturing Decision-Making Framework (RDMF). (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Revenue management in remanufacturing: perspectives, review of current literature and research directions

The pace of development in the world has increased over the years and with it, the use of hi-tech gadgets, consumer durables, automobiles, etc. has also gone up. In this context, as resources become more and more scarce, there are multiple challenges that emerge both from a sustainable development perspective, and from the perspective of meeting profitability objectives of a firm. Remanufacturing has come up in a big way as an answer to these challenges, but firms are struggling with respect to revenue management of this nascent area. We assess the current literature and distil the key factors that firms need to consider as they assimilate remanufacturing in their operations and revenue management strategy. We provide an assessment of white spaces in research in this area and also outline the directions for future research.

Dynamic pricing models for used products in remanufacturing with lost-sales and uncertain quality

In this paper, we investigate the remanufacturing problem of pricing single-class used products (cores) in the face of random price-dependent returns and random demand. Specifically, we propose a dynamic pricing policy for the cores and then model the problem as a continuous-time Markov decision process. Our models are designed to address three objectives: finite horizon total cost minimization, infinite horizon discounted cost, and average cost minimization. Besides proving optimal policy uniqueness and establishing monotonicity results for the infinite horizon problem, we also characterize the structures of the optimal policies, which can greatly simplify the computational procedure. Finally, we use computational examples to assess the impacts of specific parameters on optimal price and reveal the benefits of a dynamic pricing policy. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Dynamic pricing for used products in remanufacturing with back orders(ABS 3* Journal, Accepted with Revision on 2nd December 2011).

In remanufacturing, the supply of used products and the demand for remanufactured products are usually mismatched because of the great uncertainties on both sides. In this paper, we propose a dynamic pricing policy to balance this uncertain supply and demand. Specifically, we study a remanufacturer’s problem of pricing a single class of cores with random price-dependent returns and random demand for the remanufactured products with backlogs. We model this pricing task as a continuous-time Markov decision process, which addresses both the finite and infinite horizon problems, and provide managerial insights by analyzing the structural properties of the optimal policy. We then use several computational examples to illustrate the impacts of particular system parameters on pricing policy.

An integrated approach to remanufacturing: model of a remanufacturing system

Remanufacturing is the process of rebuilding used products that ensures that the quality of remanufactured products is equivalent to that of new ones. Although the theme is gaining ground, it is still little explored due to lack of knowledge, the difficulty of visualizing it systemically, and implementing it effectively. Few models treat remanufacturing as a system. Most of the studies still treated remanufacturing as an isolated process, preventing it from being seen in an integrated manner. Therefore, the aim of this work is to organize the knowledge about remanufacturing, offering a vision of remanufacturing system and contributing to an integrated view about the theme. The methodology employed was a literature review, adopting the General Theory of Systems to characterize the remanufacturing system. This work consolidates and organizes the elements of this system, enabling a better understanding of remanufacturing and assisting companies in adopting the concept.

The efficiency of remanufacturing in a dynamic input–output model

For industrialised economy of ourdays, remanufacturing represents perhaps the largest unexploited resource and opportunity for realising a greater growth of the economy in an environmental-conscious manner. The aim of this paper is to investigate of the impact of remanufacturing in the economy from an economic-efficiency point of view. In static context this phenomenon was analysed in the literature. We use the multi-sector input–output framework in a dynamic context to study intra-period relationships of the sectors of economy. We extend the classical dynamic input–output model taking into consideration the activity of remanufacturing .We try to answer the question, whether the remanufacturing/reuse increases the growth possibility of an economy. We expose a sufficient condition concerning the effectivity of an economy with remanufacturing. By this evaluation we analyse a possible sustainable development of the economy on the basis of the product recovery management of industries.

An architecture design with data model for product recovery management systems

Due to concerns about environmental protection and resource utilization, product lifecycle management for end-of-life (EOL) has received increasing attention in many industrial sectors including manufacturing, maintenance/repair, and recycling/refurbishing of the product. To support these functions, crucial issues are studied to realize a product recovery management system (PRMS), including: (1) an architecture design for EOL services, such as remanufacturing and recycling; (2) a product data model required for EOL activity based on international standards; and (3) an infrastructure for information acquisition and mapping to product lifecycle information. The presented works are illustrated via a realistic scenario. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

逆向物流流量不确定闭环供应链鲁棒运作策略设计

考虑一类同时具有再分销、再制造和再利用的闭环供应链在逆向物流流量不确定环境下的运作问题.采用具有已知概率的离散情景描述逆向物流流量的不确定性,利用基于情景分析的鲁棒线性优化方法建立该闭环供应链的多目标运作模型.设计了一个数值算例,其结果验证了运作策略的鲁棒性.在该算例基础上,分析了逆向物流流量的大小对闭环供应链系统运作性能的影响.

基于激光熔覆的绿色再制造技术研究

为了实现轴类零件的修复,搭建基于激光熔覆技术的绿色再制造系统,该系统由功率为6kW的CO2激光器、四轴工作台、送粉机构、数控系统等硬件设备和激光绿色再制造系统驱动软件组成。以轴类为典型零件、Ni60A合金粉末为熔覆材料,对激光绿色再制造工艺技术进行研究。通过研究分析激光功率、熔覆速度、送粉量、熔覆间距等主要参数对熔覆层高度、宽度和熔覆层质量等的影响情况,获得了轴类零件激光修复的最佳工艺参数组合,实现基于激光熔覆的绿色再制造技术在生产实践中的应用。

激光再制造关键技术及其工艺试验研究

激光再制造技术是在20世纪80年代末期出现的激光熔覆技术基础上结合再制造技术所发展起来的一项先进制造技术，它利用高能激光束局部熔化零件表面形成熔池，同时将金属合金粉末同步送入熔池而形成与基体金属冶金结合的熔覆层，赋予零部件耐高温、耐腐蚀、耐磨损、抗疲劳等性能。该技术融合了激光技术、材料科学、数控加工、CAD/CAM技术、光电检测技术、机构设计技术、优化设计和系统仿真等相关领域的关键技术，是一门全新的光、机、电、计算机、自动化、材料综合交叉的制造技术。它的出现给机电设备的再制造带来了全新的理念，解决了很多传统再制造技术无法解决的难题，极大的带动和促进了再制造产业的发展，具有广阔的应用前景，产生了巨大的经济、社会和环境效益。 目前，国内外激光再制造技术的研究尚处于萌芽阶段，研究还没有形成系统化，仍然有很多关键技术需要进行深入细致的研究。本文在国家863计划、中科院知识创新基金和地方科技攻关等项目的支持下，系统地研究了激光再制造的关键技术，在建立各项关键技术知识点分析和理论研究的基础上，给出了关键技术的实施路线和解决方案，为激光再制造技术的工艺试验和工业化应用提供了理论依据和技术支持。具体的研究内容如下： （1） 进行了激光再制造系统本体研究，在系统地研究了各功能模块的基础上，提出了各功能模块选择的原则，有效的避免了搭建再制造系统时各功能模块任意选择的误区。针对国产激光器不稳定和使用寿命短等缺点，借鉴固态激光器的结构原理，设计开发了新一代模块化CO2激光器；针对国产送粉系统不稳定、送粉不均匀等缺点，设计开发了一种新型内外双水冷的同轴送粉喷嘴，经过试验测试，此喷嘴可长时间连续稳定运行，满足工业化生产的需要。基于模糊数学理论的优化设计方法，自主开发了一套三维多功能激光再制造系统，该系统结构完整、功能完善、性能可靠，可以对大型设备零部件进行激光修复和激光淬火。 （2） 进行了激光再制造熔池温度场检测系统的研究，建立了一套在线、小视场、大量程、高精度红外测温系统；通过红外滤光片的选择和设计，有效解决了传统3CCD相机比色测量的准确度差和精度低的问题；提出了一种红外热像系统位置标定的方法，为其它领域红外系统的摄像机标定提供了研究基础；进行了各加工工艺参数对熔池温度场稳定性影响的研究，从而更加了解了激光熔覆凝固成型的原理。同时，进行了熔覆层厚度检测系统的研究，建立了一套单CCD应用线结构光测量熔覆层厚度的系统，并对系统的构成、系统的标定和测量原理进行了分析和研究，从而实现了熔覆层厚度由定性测量向定量测量的跨越。 （3） 进行了工业生产中常见装备及其零部件的失效分析研究，提出了一套按照增加熔覆层性能的失效原因分类原则；进行了激光熔覆粉末种类及其特点的研究，提出了一套激光熔覆粉末的选择原则，给出了各类熔覆层应该采用的熔覆粉末的具体配比方案，从而为激光再制造技术的工业应用奠定了基础。 （4） 进行了激光再制造工艺设计研究，详细分解了激光熔覆过程中涉及到的各工艺步骤，如光束选择、送粉方式、不同基材的熔覆工艺、预处理工艺、预热处理、加工路径规划和后处理等，结合大量的工艺试验，提出了各工艺的选择原则；提出了激光比能量、送粉速度、搭接率、预热温度、预置粉末厚度和保护气流量是影响激光再制造熔覆层质量的最重要工艺参数，并结合工艺实验验证了这些工艺参数对熔覆层质量的实际影响；进行了熔覆层质量的宏观判据和微观判据研究，给出了宏观判据现象产生的原因和微观判据测量的方法，从而为激光再制造技术的工业应用铺平了道路。 （5） 在解决了上述激光再制造关键技术的基础上，进行了板坯结晶器激光再制造工艺试验研究，分析了板坯结晶器的失效原因，并根据失效分析设计和选择熔覆粉末，然后对每种熔覆粉末进行了熔覆工艺设计，采用正交试验法获得了各加工工艺的最佳工艺参数，并制备了相应的样件；然后对样件熔覆层的各种宏观现象和微观性能测试的进行了分析，包括孔隙率、浸润性、微观形貌、显微硬度、成分偏析、金相研究、抗腐蚀性和抗热疲劳性能等，从而得出了大面积板坯结晶器激光熔覆的最佳熔覆粉末、最佳工艺和工艺参数等，并进行了窄板结晶器的激光再制造。

Remanufacturer-Manufacturer Collaborative Model in the Smae Channel

This paper adds to the growing literature of market competition related to the remanufacturer by analyzing the model where the remanufacturer and the manufacturer collaborate with each other in the same channel. This paper investigates a single-period deterministic model which keeps the analysis simple so as to obtain sharper insights. The results characterize the optimal remanufacturing and pricing strategies for the remanufacturer and the manufacturer in the collaborative model

The Bright Side of Manufacturing–Remanufacturing Conflict in a Decentralised Closed-Loop Supply Chain

Researchers and managers broadly agree that original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), which have opportunities to produce both new and remanufactured products, are better off by centrally controlling their manufacturing and remanufacturing activities. Thus, OEMs should not remanufacture used products until the remanufacturing cost is sufficiently low to overcome the negative impact of new product cannibalisation. In this paper, we present a contrasting view of the manufacturing–remanufacturing conflict: OEMs sometimes benefit from the decentralised control mode under which they ignore the internal cannibalisation rather than the remanufacturing option. We consider a decentralised closed-loop supply chain in which one OEM can purchase new components from one supplier to produce new products and collect used products from consumers to produce remanufactured products. The key feature of our model is that the OEM can select a centralised or decentralised control mode to manage its manufacturing and remanufacturing activities before the supplier prices the new component. In a steady state period setting, we analyse the players’ optimal decisions and compare the OEM's profits under centralised and decentralised control modes. Our analytic results reveal that the decentralised control within the OEM can outperform the centralised control when the cost structure of producing new and remanufactured products satisfies certain conditions. Finally, the key findings are distilled in a conceptual framework and its managerial implications are discussed.