Product re-design

Due to the novelty of E&HEVs and to the lack of consolidate EOL practices, currently components are not designed to be efficiently reused, remanufactured and recycled. In addition, the development of the new reuse technologies and methods will generate new requirements for components and parts of E&HEVs (in terms of material composition, joining techniques, geometry, etc.). Hence, techniques such as “design for disassembly, remanufacturing and recycling” will be applied to redesign E&HEVs products.

Particular focus will be put on disassembly: new joining interfaces will be developed, for example adhesives which can be liquefied on demand or new interfaces allowing the realization of parts through modules that can be easily disassembled and reassembles.

Re-design will be also aimed at making products smarter in a logic of Industry 4.0. Products will be equipped with sensors that will measure specific status conditions during their lifetime (for example use time, wear, stress, charge, etc.). Sensors information will be transmitted to the disassembly SMM, that will retrieve data to address the optimal EOL processes, as well as to support customer incentive schemes.

In order to collect all necessary requirements, redesign process will involve all supply chain stakeholders. In particular, customers will be included as direct protagonists, bringing them closer to the production and post-production processes thanks to the application of a new collaborative methodology for products design/redesign. Through such an approach, design decisions will be systematically analysed with respect to the possible impact on performance offered to customers, considering their specific requirements.