Study
Resource ManagementHigh ImpactStrong effect

Predicting End-of-Life Costs in Early Design Concepts Reduces Lifecycle Expenses

Integrating end-of-life cost prediction into the conceptual design phase allows manufacturers to proactively design for sustainability and reduce overall product lifecycle expenses.

Journal of Cleaner Production · 2014

01

Key Findings

  • 01A significant portion of product lifecycle costs can be attributed to end-of-life processes.
  • 02A predictive model can effectively estimate EOL costs at the conceptual design stage.
  • 03Early consideration of EOL costs facilitates design choices that favour recycling, refurbishment, or remanufacturing.
02

Application

Design takeaway

Integrate end-of-life cost prediction into the earliest stages of product conceptualization to drive sustainable design choices and manage lifecycle expenses.

How to apply

When developing new products, create a preliminary cost estimate for potential recycling, refurbishment, or disposal based on anticipated materials and complexity, using this as a factor in design decisions.

Project actions

  • 01Consider the materials you are using and their ease of recycling or disposal.
  • 02Research potential costs associated with dismantling and processing products at their end-of-life.
03

Method & Evidence

AimHow can end-of-life costs for defence electronic systems be predicted at the conceptual design stage to inform decisions about remanufacturing, refurbishment, or recycling?
MethodCase Study with Cost Modelling
ProcedureThe research investigated end-of-life disposal costs incurred by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in defence electronic systems. A novel predictive cost model was developed and proposed as a roadmap to estimate these costs during the conceptual design phase. A selected defence electronic system was used as a case study to validate the proposed method.
ContextDefence electronics manufacturing

Variables

IVDesign concept stage, inclusion of EOL cost prediction
DVEnd-of-life costs, design choices (recycling, refurbishment, remanufacture)
CVProduct type (defence electronic systems), OEM perspective
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Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

  • +Addresses a critical but often overlooked aspect of product lifecycle.
  • +Provides a practical roadmap for cost prediction.

Limitations

Accurately predicting future disposal costs can be challenging due to evolving regulations and market prices for recycled materials.

Reliability & validity

The study's validity is supported by its focus on a specific domain (defence electronics) and the development of a concrete roadmap. Reliability would depend on the consistency of the cost model's application and the accuracy of the input data.

Think critically

To what extent can EOL cost prediction models be made universally applicable across diverse product categories and industries, given the variability in materials, manufacturing processes, and regional disposal regulations?

05

Design Principles

"Design for Disassembly and Recovery: Anticipate and account for the costs and processes associated with product end-of-life during the initial design concept."

Understanding and quantifying potential end-of-life (EOL) costs early in the design process enables informed decisions regarding material selection, component design, and end-of-life strategies like recycling, refurbishment, or remanufacturing. This proactive approach can lead to more economically viable and environmentally responsible product development.

06

What This Means for Your Design

Think about how your product will be thrown away or reused *before* you even start designing it. This can save money and help the environment.

How to use in your project

  • 1.Use this research to justify the importance of considering end-of-life costs in your design process and to inform your own cost analysis.
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Add to My Project

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Quick Cite

(2014). Towards cleaner production: a roadmap for predicting product end-of-life costs at early design concept. Journal of Cleaner Production. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.10.033 Retrieved from https://designdex.org/study/773bdaa5-89b2-4811-be47-64722415ac1f/predicting-end-of-life-costs-in-early-design-concepts-reduces-lifecycle-expenses

Paragraph starter

This research highlights the critical need to integrate end-of-life cost prediction into the early conceptual design phase. By proactively assessing potential disposal, recycling, or remanufacturing expenses, designers can make more informed decisions that lead to products with reduced lifecycle costs and improved sustainability, as demonstrated by the proposed roadmap for defence electronic systems.

09

Source

Journal of Cleaner Production

Towards cleaner production: a roadmap for predicting product end-of-life costs at early design concept

journal · 2014

View source

Questions about this research

What does the research say about predicting end-of-life costs in early design concepts reduces lifecycle expenses?
Integrate end-of-life cost prediction into the earliest stages of product conceptualization to drive sustainable design choices and manage lifecycle expenses. Evidence: Journal of Cleaner Production (2014).
Why does "Predicting End-of-Life Costs in Early Design Concepts Reduces Lifecycle Expenses" matter for design?
Understanding and quantifying potential end-of-life (EOL) costs early in the design process enables informed decisions regarding material selection, component design, and end-of-life strategies like recycling, refurbishment, or remanufacturing. This proactive approach can lead to more economically viable and environmentally responsible product development.
How can designers apply this research?
Integrate end-of-life cost prediction into the earliest stages of product conceptualization to drive sustainable design choices and manage lifecycle expenses.
What were the main findings?
A significant portion of product lifecycle costs can be attributed to end-of-life processes.. A predictive model can effectively estimate EOL costs at the conceptual design stage.. Early consideration of EOL costs facilitates design choices that favour recycling, refurbishment, or remanufacturing.
What research method was used?
Case Study with Cost Modelling.
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2014 journal from Journal of Cleaner Production.
What should I do differently in my next project?
When developing new products, create a preliminary cost estimate for potential recycling, refurbishment, or disposal based on anticipated materials and complexity, using this as a factor in design decisions.
What are the limitations?
The proposed model was validated on a single defence electronic system, and its generalizability to other product types or industries may require further investigation.
Is there evidence that costs early affects design outcomes?
By predicting end-of-life costs early in the design process, manufacturers can make better decisions about how to handle product disposal, potentially saving money and improving sustainability. Understanding and quantifying potential end-of-life (EOL) costs early in the design process enables informed decisions regardi Source: Journal of Cleaner Production (2014).
Where does this early design research apply?
Defence electronics manufacturing It sits within resource management research on designdex.org.

Related research topics

costs early design research · evidence on costs early · does costs early improve design outcomes · early design studies for designers · costs early and early design findings · resource management research evidence