Research Initiation: Enhancing Reusability by Design

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9410005 Bras A growing concern about the environment, and especially about waste and landfill, has spurred research into the design of more environmentally benign products. A dramatic reduction in environmental impact can be made by product reuse in which, in contrast to material recycling, the geometrical form of the product is retained and its associated economical and environmental value is preserved. However, attempts to generate formal and systematic design approaches which include environmental considerations such as reusability as well as economical, mechanical and other design considerations break down when confronted with the need to quantify environmental properties and requirements. In this research the objective is to identify efficient and effective metrics for quantifying and enhancing reusability in design. In order to achieve this objective, reusability metrics are postulated based on life cycle factors affecting reusability of engineering systems. A validation strategy is developed to determine the correctness and validity of these metrics. Among others, the postulated metrics are verified using historical design and service data from cooperating industrial partners. Uncertainty and variability are key aspects which are taken into account as well. Design of environmentally benign products is an area of critical national importance. Successful research results could be used by the industrial design community to improve the product development activities. The project has strong industrial support.