Assessing the profitability of remanufacturing initiation: a literature review

Abstract

AbstractRemanufacturing has been modelled extensively from an economic perspective. However, there are relatively few studies focusing on models that consider the implementation difficulties in industry, such as data availability and model transparency. This paper aims to identify how remanufacturing initiations can be economically assessed with models particularly suitable for industry. These models should contribute to disseminating the know-how about initiating remanufacturing to transit industries towards more circular product flows. To fulfil this aim, a systematic literature review was conducted. The search resulted in a total of 964 papers published till August 2021. The results show that assessment models could be categorised into a two-dimensional framework indicating the level of computer support needed to handle the models and the level of data requirements to use the models, both of which are considered essential in the industrial implementation of the models. The review revealed and structured a further need for research on assessing remanufacturing initiation profitability, especially on economic assessment models designed to assist industries without previous remanufacturing knowledge in such an initiation.