Design for disassembly, a practice embraced by product developers, plays a crucial role in fostering a circular economy. By dismantling and repurposing original components, whether within the same product or an entirely new one, substantial environmental advantages can be achieved.
It used to be easy to fix things when they were designed to be fixable. These days, it is hard to disassemble, let alone repair, them due to linear production practices, lower product costs and evolving manufacturing technologies. While industrial transformations have enabled speed-to-market, they have also increased manufacturing waste across the globe. Think abandoned aircraft parts(1), household electronic equipment(2) and wind turbine blades with poor recyclability – all unaccounted for and growing in number.
With all this waste expected to reach 3.4 billion tons by 2050(3), manufacturers and operators must focus on making their product values more circular – to rethink their approach to product design and make parts and components easier to dismantle, recycle, reassemble and upgrade. Prioritizing disassembly will also enable them to reduce waste, repurpose extracted materials and decarbonize their value chain. In most cases, disassembling products consumes less energy than grinding and melting materials for recycling.
Designing for disassembly is a greater challenge than designing for assembly. Subcontractors are often the ones doing disassembly at non-centralized sites, while retaining the value of components and materials is often difficult and costly. Simulation and other digital capabilities on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform enable manufacturers and operators to design the disassembly processes right from the early stages of product development.
Discover how below.
Turn to powerful digital solutions on a fully integrated platform to optimize your disassembly strategy and claim your place in the global circular economy.
To repurpose and remanufacture product parts for further use, a good recovery system must first exist. On the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, manufacturers and operators can track and oversee dismantled components and materials in one place before taking them further in the disassembly process.
Explore the interactive infographic below to understand how a virtually optimized disassembly process plays a role in lifecycle management strategy.
Integrating an end-to-end disassembly strategy into a circular economy framework can be complex. It is far easier for manufacturers and operators to pinpoint and develop the circular values of their strategy when they can trace where all product parts, components and materials are within their value chain.
Find out more below.
The digital passport mindset is crucial in a disassembly-driven circular economy. A product and service systems expert unpacks this concept and the value it brings to an end-to-end disassembly strategy.
1 Source: The World's Biggest 'Boneyard' Houses Almost 4,000 Aircraft by Interesting Engineering
2 Source: What A Waste 2.0 by The World Bank
3 Source: What a Waste 2.0: A Global Snapshot of Solid Waste Management to 2050 by The World Bank
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Design for Disassembly (DFD) promotes products designed for easy disassembly and recycling. It considers the entire lifecycle during design, prioritizes recyclable materials, and enables effortless part removal for reuse or recycling.
Design for easy component removal enables efficient reuse. For instance, disassembling columns, walls, beams, and slabs without waste or pollution allows their reuse in building extensions or new constructions.
Disassembly involves separating building or component parts, vital for recycling, reusability, and the circular economy. It facilitates material separation for effective recycling or identification of reusable elements.
Design for disassembly (DFD) is gaining traction in the built environment. It emphasizes creating easily disassembled products, components, or systems for reuse, repair, or recycling. DFD promotes sustainability and extended life cycles for buildings and products.
Designing buildings for disassembly (DFD) involves creating structures that can be easily dismantled and repurposed, minimizing environmental impact. This design approach, growing in popularity, reduces waste, promotes sustainability, and enables efficient reuse or recycling of building components.