Introduction
Companies and governments the world over are recognizing the value of AI in optimizing remanufacturing processes to cultivate the circular economy. As environmental concerns gain increasing prominence and questions of supply chain reliability are amplified with the series of global economic shockwaves experienced in recent years, the importance of developing the circular economy comes into even clearer focus. Projects initiated by the European Union offer great insight into the collaborative potential of utilizing AI and remanufacturing to promote the circular economy. The benefits of less competition for natural resources and raw materials, as well as the influx of research funds into the private sector, have allowed the EU projects to flourish and show us all how a sustainable future may be achieved. Here, we’ll take a look at two specific projects helmed by the EU, RENÉE and CREDIT.
RENÉE
The EU launched the RENÉE Project in an effort to minimize product waste and use available resources more efficiently, investing in applied AI research and advanced robotics to “rejuvenate used products, fostering a sustainable revolution in the EU industry”. The project is specifically focused, among other areas, on household appliances which offer a particularly perceptive glimpse into the value of remanufacturing. As products with long lifespans that are typically composed of large amounts of metals and other valuable, limited raw materials, remanufacturing household appliances to offer upgrades to consumers has significant environmental benefits, while lowering costs for manufacturers. The project emphasizes sustainable manufacturing above all else, and has chosen a very effective means by which to promote this concept.
One of the more popular concerns about the integration of AI into the workplace is the effect it has on existing workers, and the potential for job elimination. To alleviate these public concerns, RENÉE places priority on upskilling and reskilling workers to be able to utilize the new, compelling AI and robotics technologies being developed. This eases fears over job security while also creating a more efficient and productive workplace, with employees capable of utilizing the benefits provided by advancements in AI and automation, rather than resisting them. As stated right in the project’s vision, “the objective of RENÉE is to implement human-centric production systems relying on advanced robotics and AI to accommodate the remanufacturing of diverse states of used products”. By maintaining a human-centric focus, AI and advanced robotics are used as effective tools rather than threats to employment, maximizing the productive capabilities of industry.
Here, we see the coalescence of business and environmental interests, and the crucial role AI will play in creating a more sustainable future. By placing an emphasis on recycling old products and prioritizing remanufacture, companies can spend less on raw materials while delivering better products to consumers, all while lessening their environmental impact. 16 companies from 9 different countries are participating in the project, demonstrating how the rising tide of AI can lift all boats and promote impactful collaboration. By applying AI to refine and enrich the circular economy, we can enjoy worldwide economic and environmental benefits.
CREDIT
The CREDIT Project shares many of the same goals as RENÉE, though with a greater stated emphasis on the role of digitalization and AI-based decision-making technology. CREDIT outlines asset digitalization and the development of an open-source information and communication technology platform as two of the key contributions it seeks to make to the remanufacturing sector of the circular economy. The project also wants to enhance predictive maintenance programs to anticipate the needs of remanufacturers and their products, as well as demonstrating the utility of Augmented Reality in remanufacturing, the training capabilities of which ties in with the human-centric approach and focus on upskilling it shares with RENÉE.
Notably, the project highlights the potential of Digital Twins technologies in optimizing the remanufacturing process. By utilizing Digital Twins, remanufacturers can gain a much greater understanding of their products. Digital Twins offer remanufacturers insight into the different paths they can take, revealing new reuse strategies and making them easier to compare with existing models. This digital comparison method allows remanufacturers to identify and conduct more efficient and effective processes, reducing waste and resource consumption. It also enables remanufacturers to enhance visibility throughout their operations, maintaining a clear record of product condition and history. This aspect, coupled with other benefits provided by Digital Twins technologies, improves remanufacturers’ abilities to not only detect but prevent product defects and failures. Encompassing product design, risk detection, inventory management, and resource utilization, advancements in Digital Twins technologies will revolutionize remanufacturing and product development as a whole. By investing specifically in applied research and use cases with these technologies, the CREDIT Project hopes to showcase and expand upon this already inspiring potential.
Both RENÉE and CREDIT fall under the EU’s Horizon Europe umbrella, and it will be fascinating to see what new breakthroughs are made as a result of these projects and their successors in this space. The future-focused mandate under which they operate ensures these projects will continue to make valuable contributions to both remanufacturing and AI, and further foster the compelling intersection of the two.
