Towards a framework for automatic disassembly supporting circular economy

This paper provides an in-depth study of Design for Assembly (DfA) and Design for Disassembly (DfD) concepts and related challenges to facilitate the vision of a fully automated production line being capable of assembling and disassembling on the very same production line. The gained insights play an instrumental role in fostering the paradigm of the circular economy. Therefore, it enables the easy decomposition of product components at the end-of-life stage, facilitating efficient repair, recycling, reuse, and recovery. The circular economy, characterized by closed-loop resource utilization, depends immensely on structured product disposal and resource recovery systems, thus rendering DfD a critical component within this remanufacturing-framework. A framework considering all lifecycle phases based on existing design strategies is presented. Product data management and their effectiveness in amplifying a circular economic system is assessed. Challenges and barriers in employing DfD (economical, ecological, technological, and operational) are discussed, along with potential solutions. Furthermore, advancements in technology including Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing which can enhance DfD capabilities are explored, thus expediting the journey towards a more circular economy in product development.