A Sustainable Application Based on Grouping Genetic Algorithm for Modularized Redesign Model in Apparel Reverse Supply Chain

Abstract

The scarcity of natural resources and the problem of pollution have initiated the need for extending the life and use of existing products. The concept of the reverse supply chain provides an opportunity to recover value from discarded products. The potential for recovery and the improvement of value in the reverse supply chain of apparel has been barely studied. In this research, a novel modularized redesign model is developed and applied to the garment redesign process. The concept of modularization is used to extract parts from the end-of-use or end-of-life of products. The extracted parts are reassembled or reconstructed with the help of a proposed group genetic algorithm by using domain and industry-specific knowledge. Design fitness is calculated to achieve the optimal redesign. Subsequently, the practical relevance of the model is investigated with the help of an industrial case in Sweden. The case study finding reveals that the proposed method and model to calculate the design fitness could simplify the redesign process. The design fitness calculation is illustrated with the example of a polo t-shirt. The redesigned system-based modularization is in accordance with the practical situations because of its flexibility and viability to formulate redesign decisions. The grouping genetic algorithm could enable fast redesign decisions for designers.

A United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals perspective for sustainable textile and apparel supply chain management

“…However, reverse FSCM activities can provide opportunities to alleviate this situation ( Pinheiro et al, 2019 ). Reverse FSCM activities may include reuse, remanufacturing, recycling and so on ( Kannan et al, 2012 , Bukhari et al, 2018 , Paras et al, 2018 ).…”

Analysis of the sustainability aspects of fashion: A literature review

“…Paras et al. 26 also suggested original design ideas to increase the sustainability of fashion products, and created a design that employed detachable garment parts and provided the possibility to personalize mass-production garments. Hwang and Zhang 27 also suggested innovative redesign methods to reduce post-industrial and post-consumer waste.…”

Product redesign considering the sensitivity of customer satisfaction

“…After a period of marketing, existing products often need to be redesigned owing to internal and external influences, such as technology advancing and continuous evolution of CRs (Smith et al , 2012; Zhu et al , 2017; Li et al ., 2021 b ). Driven by the motivation of functional obsolescence and changes of CRs, many objectives have been considered in product redesign, such as improving materials and structures for remanufacturing (Shin et al , 2015; Paras et al , 2018; Zhang et al , 2021), seeking product innovations (Smith et al , 2012; Dong et al , 2021; Wang, 2021), reducing costs (Janz et al , 2005; Lee et al , 2011; Zhang et al ., 2019 b ), and reducing the environmental impacts (Bovea and Wang, 2007; Borchardt et al , 2011; Yang et al , 2011). However, final redesigned products based on these methods are not sufficiently competitive in marketplace, as customer requirements cannot be clearly identified and satisfied (Yan et al , 2002; Mukhopadhyay and Ameri, 2016), that is, critical DPs of these products cannot be well identified and improved for achieving customer requirements sufficiently and effectively (Jiang et al , 2019).…”