ReX strategies
Ensuring extended product use (through maintenance, repair, refurbishment, upgrading etc.) with economic value for both supplier and user is a very sensible strategy. Collaboration is very important in trying to achieve this.
What is already happening
Repair is popular and can be achieved independently. More than 80% of businesses are focusing on more than one strategy. The greatest need is for collaboration in repurposing. In the near future, many forms of adding value (refurbish, upgrade, remanufacture) will become options.
The main challenges
The main obstacle is recovering the end-of-life products. Setting up a clear business case is a challenge for companies; finding the time and resources to focus on ReX activities is also a major concern.
Collaboration with a sheltered workshop
The idea of a sheltered workshop as a service provider and supplier is supported by many companies. However, there is also a large group of companies that do not consider collaboration feasible. There is still a lot of scope for manufacturing companies and sheltered workshops to get to know each other’s capabilities better.
Key challenges in setting up ReX collaboration
Recovering products
Contact with the user and owner of the products at the end of life is crucial for setting up reverse logistics. Read about collaboration that focuses on the return flow.
A sound business case
Sharing the costs and benefits between the partners in the chain is essential for making the whole process economically feasible. Find out how to make collaboration profitable here.
Dealing with ReX complexity in sheltered workshops
Product variability in terms of type, quality and history poses a major challenge for standardised work in sheltered workshops. We describe some possible solutions.
