Disassembly simulation for an effective recycling of electrical scrap

Disassembly of worn-out products, e.g. electronic products, without a careful planning of the processes may make recycling of such electrical scrap costly and inefficient. Computer assisted methods to support systematic planning of disassembly processes can help to increase the productivity and to improve the environmental-friendly removal of this kind of worn-out product. The paper introduces a software-tool, so-called LaySiD (Lay out Simulation for Disassembly), that includes a few modules to support the phases of planning disassembly. Methods of classifying electronic devices into disassembly-families with respect to their dismantling-related attributes are outlined. Further methods include the generation of flexible disassembly systems and the simulation of disassembly processes. The methods are applied to a spectrum of electronic devices that were analyzed in a dismantling experiment. The depicted tool may allow companies involved in dismantling and recycling of electrical scrap to optimize their disassembly processes and to improve productivity in recycling electrical scrap.