Product modularization for parts reuse in inverse manufacturing

For reducing environmental burden of industrial products, it is mandatory to rationalize product design and to achieve a closed loop product life cycle by use of comprehensive parts reuse and recycling. It is difficult to introduce parts reuse based on conventional product structure, and appropriate product modularization is necessary to efficiently manage a closed loop product life cycle. A new product modularization strategy is proposed across a family of products and successive generation of products, based on product functionality, product commonality and life cycle similarity. Car air-conditioners are examined for the validity of the proposed method.