Optimizing Product Life Cycle Systems for Manufacturing in a Circular Economy

Published

April 26, 2023

Author(s)

Buddhika Hapuwatte, Nehika Mathur, Noah Last, Vincenzo Ferrero, Maya Reslan, KC Morris

Abstract

Global population growth and increasing resource scarcity are necessitating sustainable manufacturing and circular economy (CE) practices. These practices require the decisions made at each product life cycle (PLC) stage consider sustainability and circularity implications. We propose PLC system level optimization to identify the most favorable choices, instead of siloed individual PLC stage-specific optimizations. This should yield better circularity by permitting manufacturers to take a more holistic view and identify the areas of highest impact across the PLC. This paper presents initial work towards building a PLC system optimization framework. From an initial review of current circularity metrics, we identify metrics that are suitable for forming the optimization objectives. Second, we identify decision variables available to manufacturers across the PLC that are useful in optimizing the entire system's circularity and sustainability. Finally, we identify limitations of current metrics, and discuss major challenges and potential solutions to PLC system optimization problems.

Proceedings Title

Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering: Proceedings of GCSM 2022

Conference Dates

October 5-7, 2022

Conference Location

Berlin, DE

Conference Title

18th Global Conference on Sustainable Manufacturing

Pub Type

Conferences

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-28839-5_47

Local Download

Keywords

Circular economy, Sustainable manufacturing, Optimization, Metrics, Product life cycle

Citation

Hapuwatte, B. , Mathur, N. , Last, N. , Ferrero, V. , Reslan, M. and Morris, K. (2023), Optimizing Product Life Cycle Systems for Manufacturing in a Circular Economy, Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering: Proceedings of GCSM 2022, Berlin, DE, [online], https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-28839-5_47, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=934904 (Accessed October 1, 2025)