Graph-based information modeling of product-process interactions for disassembly and recycle planning

This paper proposes an information modeling to uniformly represent the product and the process and their interactions in the disassembly and recycle planning of a consumer product. The destructive disassembly, shredding from parts to fragments and sorting of materials are considered in the model. Four kinds of graph uniformly express the models: (1) configuration graph of subassemblies or fragments, (2) connection graph between parts or materials, (3) process graph of disassembly shredding and sorting activities, and (4) retrieval condition graph. Rules and procedures for transforming the model in these activities are also uniformly formulated as changing the topology and node attributes of the graphs. A software tool for planning all feasible disassembly and recycle processes and a case study on a retired vacuum cleaner are shown.