Integration of Product Life Cycle Data toward Remanufacturing of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment

Computer monitor showing usage data

The aim of this study is to incorporate the information collected from the product’s usage phase into making appropriate end-of-use and end-of-life (EOU/L) recovery decisions (e.g., reuse, remanufacturing, recycling, refurbishing, disposal) for consumer electronics. The analyses are focused on discovering a mutual link between the actual product usage behavior of consumers and the future reusability of devices. A data set of hard drive Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology (S.M.A.R.T.) data has been analyzed and a reusability index for the components and the products has been presented. The results of the data analysis help identify different product clusters ready for remanufacturing and further develop decision models that match the best EOU recovery option with each product cluster with a heterogeneous quality level of incoming returns.