Short answer

Adopt a systems-of-systems perspective to map and analyze all components and interactions within a circular supply chain, enabling targeted interventions for resource efficiency.

Field
Resource Management
Source
Proceedings of the Conference on Production Systems and Logistics (2023)
Method
Systems Engineering Approach and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) integration, System-of-Systems (SoS) perspective, Network Theory.
Evidence
Strong effect

Viewing a circular supply chain as a 'system of systems' allows for a more comprehensive analysis of its components, interactions, and enablers, leading to more effective implementation of resource-efficient strategies. This resource management research insight is drawn from a 2023 study published in Proceedings of the Conference on Production Systems and Logistics. Using Systems engineering approach and life cycle assessment (lca) integration, system-of-systems (sos) perspective, network theory., researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Adopt a systems-of-systems perspective to map and analyze all components and interactions within a circular supply chain, enabling targeted interventions for resource efficiency.

Study
Resource ManagementRecentStrong effect

System-of-Systems Approach Optimizes Circular Supply Chains

Viewing a circular supply chain as a 'system of systems' allows for a more comprehensive analysis of its components, interactions, and enablers, leading to more effective implementation of resource-efficient strategies.

Proceedings of the Conference on Production Systems and Logistics · 2023

01

Key Findings

  • 01A 'system of systems' perspective is effective for analyzing circular supply chains.
  • 02Modifying LCA functional unit definitions is necessary to account for dynamic supply chain boundaries in circular models.
  • 03Network theory can identify critical players in a circular supply chain system.
02

Application

Design takeaway

Adopt a systems-of-systems perspective to map and analyze all components and interactions within a circular supply chain, enabling targeted interventions for resource efficiency.

How to apply

When designing a product or service intended for a circular economy, map out all upstream and downstream processes as interconnected systems. Identify key players and their roles, and use adapted LCA to assess the resource impact across the entire value chain.

Project actions

  • 01When analyzing your design's lifecycle, consider it as a 'system of systems'.
  • 02Think about how your design interacts with suppliers, users, and recycling facilities as a network.
03

Method & Evidence

AimTo develop a theoretical framework for analyzing and theorizing circular supply chains within their system context, focusing on the technical cycle of the Circular Economy.
MethodSystems Engineering Approach and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) integration, System-of-Systems (SoS) perspective, Network Theory.
ProcedureThe research proposes a 'CE system context' for supply chain SoS, integrates R-strategies (reduce, reuse, recycle, etc.) into LCA by modifying the functional unit definition, introduces measures to assess R-strategy effectiveness, and uses network theory to evaluate player criticality.
ContextCircular Economy, Supply Chain Management, Technical Cycle

Variables

IVSystem context architecture (SoS perspective) and LCA functional unit definition.
DVEffectiveness of Circular Economy (CE) realization, resource efficiency, criticality of players.
CVR-strategies (reduce, reuse, recycle, etc.), specific industry or product type.
04

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

  • +Provides a novel theoretical framework for circular supply chains.
  • +Integrates multiple analytical approaches (Systems Engineering, LCA, Network Theory).

Limitations

It can be challenging to fully map and analyze all the complex interactions in a real-world supply chain for a design project.

Reliability & validity

The theoretical nature of the framework suggests that reliability and validity would need to be established through empirical testing and case studies.

Think critically

How might the 'system of systems' approach reveal unintended consequences or trade-offs when implementing circular strategies?

05

Design Principles

"Complex systems require holistic analysis; optimize the whole by understanding the interactions of its parts."

Understanding the complex interdependencies within a circular supply chain is crucial for designers and engineers aiming to minimize waste and maximize resource utilization. This systemic perspective enables the identification of critical leverage points for improving the overall efficiency and circularity of product lifecycles.

06

What This Means for Your Design

Think of a circular supply chain like a set of nested boxes, where each box is a different part of the process (like making, using, and recycling). By looking at how all these boxes connect and work together, you can find better ways to save resources and reduce waste.

How to use in your project

  • 1.Reference this research when discussing the systemic nature of your design's lifecycle and its integration into circular economy principles.
07

Add to My Project

08

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

The concept of a circular supply chain as a 'system of systems' (SoS) provides a valuable lens for analyzing resource flows and stakeholder interactions. By adopting this perspective, designers can move beyond isolated optimizations to understand and improve the holistic performance of their designs within a circular economy framework, ensuring that strategies like reuse and recycling are effectively integrated across the entire product lifecycle.

09

Source

Proceedings of the Conference on Production Systems and Logistics

A Methodological Framework for Analysis and Theorization of Circular Supply Chain at the System Context Level

journal · 2023

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about system-of-systems approach optimizes circular supply chains?
Adopt a systems-of-systems perspective to map and analyze all components and interactions within a circular supply chain, enabling targeted interventions for resource efficiency. Evidence: Proceedings of the Conference on Production Systems and Logistics (2023).
Why does "System-of-Systems Approach Optimizes Circular Supply Chains" matter for design?
Understanding the complex interdependencies within a circular supply chain is crucial for designers and engineers aiming to minimize waste and maximize resource utilization. This systemic perspective enables the identification of critical leverage points for improving the overall efficiency and circularity of product lifecycles.
How can designers apply this research?
Adopt a systems-of-systems perspective to map and analyze all components and interactions within a circular supply chain, enabling targeted interventions for resource efficiency.
What were the main findings?
A 'system of systems' perspective is effective for analyzing circular supply chains.. Modifying LCA functional unit definitions is necessary to account for dynamic supply chain boundaries in circular models.. Network theory can identify critical players in a circular supply chain system.
What research method was used?
Systems Engineering Approach and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) integration, System-of-Systems (SoS) perspective, Network Theory..
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2023 journal from Proceedings of the Conference on Production Systems and Logistics.
What should I do differently in my next project?
When designing a product or service intended for a circular economy, map out all upstream and downstream processes as interconnected systems. Identify key players and their roles, and use adapted LCA to assess the resource impact across the entire value chain.
What are the limitations?
The proposed framework's application and validation in diverse real-world scenarios require further empirical study.