CIRCULAR BY DESIGN : Reimagining production equipment

Industries are increasingly prioritizing development in manufacturing and production to reduce environmental impact. “Green design” is the practice used to achieve this without affecting the performance and functionality of products. To this, Design for X (DfX) refers to methods to improve design structures without compromising the quality. Another approach that can be applied to promote green design is by implementing circular practices. However, it is unclear which DfX methods can be applied to support a circular design. This thesis addresses this gap by identifying what DfX methods can be integrated into circular practices, and what framework approach can be applied to facilitate a circular design for production equipment. The research applied an adapted design research methodology with a division of three phases consisting of literature study, empirical study and a design phase for a framework. This to answer the research questions: “Which “Design for X” methods are most associated with circular practices?” and “Which aspects of the identified DfX methods are important to consider when addressing circular production equipment design?”. A literature study was conducted to collect relevant theories and answer the first research question. Furthermore, an empirical study was conducted to collect data about industrial practices and directives to validate theories and complement the study with new knowledge. A design phase was also conducted to create a framework relevant to facilitating a circular design for production equipment. This thesis concludes with a table and a framework linking DfX methods to circular principles. They highlight which principles, DfX methods, and design considerations can be applied to facilitate a circular design for production equipment.