Material Selection and Process Design Optimization Framework under Closed-Loop Supply Chain

Abstract

With an industrial era characterized by new regulations aiming at protecting costumers and the global environment, manufacturers have to be more effective in delivering products that meet customers requirement but also, they have to be apt to dispose of the products properly whenever customers decide to return them. The traditional role of material selection and process design are challenged to take these issues into consideration and provide more effective solutions for the entire (closed-loop) supply chain. We aim at studying the impact of material and process selection decisions in the design of the reverse supply chain. We present an integrated approach that consolidates these design frameworks, and also a total cost approach to be used to set products end of life management decisions.