Towards a generic simulation toolkit for reuse operations

Reuse operations, i.e., preparing used products for reuse, are complex. Typically, the quality of returned used products is unknown, as are the timing of their return and the quantity. Various reuse options (refurbishment, resale, spare parts scavenging, recycling, etc.) and multiple product types make decision-making even more challenging. Researchers identified meta-processes which are mostly present in reuse operations: acquisition of used products, grading to determine the quality of these, disposition decisions to designate a used product for a specific reuse option, and reuse activities. To support in-house reuse decision-making, we translate physical processes into simulation processes and compile a toolkit for reuse operations incorporating these functions. We demonstrate this approach using the acquisition process as an example. Created with Python’s SimPy package, the resultant template processes simplify reuse-related simulation model generation. The adaptable approach allows customization of standard processes and decision-making procedures. We present two stylized proof-of-concept examples, inspired by the reuse of IT equipment and white goods, to illustrate that the toolkit is well-suited for representing reuse operations across various industries.