1.11 Design for manufacturing, maintenance, repair and disposal

what are the 6 Rs of sustainability?

reduce, repair, reuse, rethink, recycle, refuse

repair

many product are not designed to be repaired because it increases costs to include temporary fasteners like screws which make repair easier. It also decreases the aesthetic value of the product to add temporary fixings. Manufacturers build products to be obsolete which might result in customers replacing the product and buying another.

what are the 6 Rs of sustainability?

reduce, repair, reuse, rethink, recycle, refuse

repair

many product are not designed to be repaired because it increases costs to include temporary fasteners like screws which make repair easier. It also decreases the aesthetic value of the product to add temporary fixings. Manufacturers build products to be obsolete which might result in customers replacing the product and buying another.

recycle

important to recycle materials to maximise resources and prevent from entering landfill. This is import for non-renewable materials like polymers, metal and glass. Local councils are suppling differing bins to recycle different materials. Some materials are easier to recycle than others and materials like composites are harder to separate. PP and polyethene are often used to make mixed plastic lumber used to make fences and benches.

Reduce

reducing the amount of waste or materials. This can be done by selling concentrated versions of products or refills to prevent the use of more unnecessary packaging.

refuse

its up to customers to make the choice to refuse less environmentally friendly products and swap them for more eco-conscious alternatives

rethink

altering methods, products, and materials to achieve sustainability goals eg cycling/ public transport over driving/ buying loose vegetables over prepackaged ones

reuse

repurposing items by handing it down or making it into something new and different. This lowers manufacturing, replacement, and waste disposal costs

upcycling

creative reuse of unwanted products or materials like using old bottle to make a light fixture

maintenance

up to the manufacturers and designers to decide if they allow their products to be easily repaired. Some products are made so that only specialists can operate them. Some products are not repairable due to the use of adhesives preventing you from accessing the means to fix it which leads to products being scrapped prematurely.

how can maintenance be made easier?

by using temporary joining methods like screws to access internal parts for repair. Integral fittings and clips allow people to open a product without tools which is ideal for products that you need to remove covers often. Must be as accessible and safe as possible especially on children’s toys. Standardised parts. ability to upgrade with software downloads

why does choice of material matter?

materials inform decisions and are informed by decisions. Materials have to be fit for purpose. Must suits the form, function, manufacturing methods, and consumer needs.

what does the choice of material affect?

care and disposal of products, labelling for recycling, making products easy to disassemble or separate.

how can efficient manufacture be achieved?

• ribs and webbing to reduce material thickness

• snap fitting to remove the need of fixings or adhesives

• internal moulded screw posts for use of self tapping screws

• pre made components

• standardised patterns and sizes

• addition of texture in moulding to reduce number of processes

• self finishing

disassembly

taking apart a product for repair when its at the end of its life or to reclaim parts or materials

how can products be made with manufacture in mind?

integral fittings - designed in a way that are easily released like polymer clip fastening.

Smart materials - SMA can be used as when the product is at the end of its life can be heated to its transition temperature for ‘active disassembly’

Biodegradable parts that can be easily removed and recycled or composted