Addressing Today’s challenges in automotive remanufacturing

Abstract

Automotive remanufacturing companies are nowadays facing a wide range of challenges. Typical challenges from the point of view of suppliers, producers and customers. Several process steps are analysed and problem fields are dissected: From the core management, to disassembly and cleaning to machining and testing. The main fields of challenges analysed in this paper are: the vagueness in respect of fiscal value, environmental regulations and taxation of core parts, the important need for a continuing qualification of staff and engineers, an efficient core management, the adaption of pricing models and the competence to handle the growing variety and complexity. The focus of this analysis lies on activities of the independent after-market (IAM) for remanufactured products.

Automotive Remanufacturing in the Circular Economy in Europe

“…Furthermore, the destruction of cores by OEMs is an ‘open secret.’ At ReMaTec, an expert indicated that some IRs that remanufacture for OEMs on a contractual basis might obtain an order to destroy cores instead of remanufacturing them (interview D). This observation is in line with the statement that “there are big OEM[s] destroying their core” (Amir Rashid, cited by Casper 2015, p. 14) and a case example from a German brake system OEM discussed by Lebreton (2007). An OEM representative (interview G) remarked that they strategically decide which cores they remanufacture, which they trade with core dealers, and which they dispose of for scrapping.…”

A triple bottom line examination of product cannibalisation and remanufacturing: A review and research agenda

“…The majority of the reviewed literature focuses on the economic dimension, where 59% of research investigated aspects such as product pricing, secondary market competition, sales, and inventory planning, as they relate to the relative profitability of remanufacturing operations. Indirectly related to these economic elements, particularly product pricing, is a systemic lack of access and supply or cores, which has been identified by remanufacturers as one of their key challenges (Ijomah, 2009;Casper and Sundin, 2018;Kurilova-Palisaitiene, Sundin and Poksinska, 2018). However, it is important to note that while substantial economic modelling research has been performed to enhance demand forecasting, price optimisation, and price elasticity in the context of remanufactured products, these studies have typically ignored the effect of product cannibalism (Yeoman, 2012b).…”

Urban mining in buildings for a circular economy: Planning, process and feasibility prospects

“…Remanufacturing and reverse logistics efforts have long been practiced with a reuse perspective for material and environmental benefits in sectors such as automobiles, electrical and electronic products and equipment (Casper and Sundin, 2018;Gutowski et al, 2011;Hertwich et al, 2019;Kwak and Kim, 2016;Saavedra et al, 2013). However in buildings sector, urban mining has largely been focussed on recycling efforts for concrete and metals (Brunner, 2011;Cossu and Williams, 2015;Koutamanis et al, 2018;Stephan and Athanassiadis, 2018).…”