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An Integrated Life Cycle Assessment and Optimization Approach for Automotive De-manufacturing Systems

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2017, Doctor of Philosophy, University of Toledo, Engineering.
The Automotive Recycling Industry currently faces the greatest challenges in terms of the efficient reuse and recycling of End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs). While the automotive industry has integrated almost every breakthrough from multi-disciplinary fields of sciences and engineering, the technology and practices surrounding the proper disposal and recycling of ELVs remains a lagging indicator to automotive technology. However, despite the greater focus of business entities and researchers on the manufacturing of new vehicles, the responsibility surrounding the recycling and disposal of ELVs is equally important. The improper or ineffective strategies in the disposal of waste materials from ELVs can lead to grave environmental consequences. Furthermore, aside from their adverse effects on the environment, problems associated with improper waste disposal of ELV materials may also lead to various social and economic problems. One of the most notable barriers to effective and proper ELV processing is the high economic cost associated with their recycling and disposal. From the consumer’s point of view, proper and effective disposal would require additional expenditure which could be otherwise added to the funds needed to purchase and acquire a new car. On the other hand, from a business perspective, automotive recycling companies seek to recycle and reuse ELVs while at the same time expect to profit from such a venture. This study aims to use the Integrated Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Optimization Approach for Automotive De-manufacturing Systems in order to arrive at a most efficient and effective method which can be adopted in order to streamline the ELV recycling and waste disposal process. It aims to investigate and analyze the insights and findings derived from existing research in relation to the current methods conventionally used in the disposal and recycling of ELVs. The factors are then aggregated and integrated in order to arrive at formulas and cost metrics which are needed for evaluating the efficacy of the entire ELV recycling network. Furthermore, this study would also investigate the problems currently faced by the Automotive Recycling Industry in general, and how these problems can be related to the objectives of the study. It is the aim of this study to arrange an effective method which policy-makers and business entities can use in order to find the optimum location for a processing facility which will help improve regional or even global ELV recycling processes as well as keep the overall cost associated with such processes at a minimum. The network model that was formulated in this study includes the various factors that are considered important in ELV de-manufacturing. The said optimized model was applied to resolve the problems faced by the automotive aftermarket industry in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, which resulted to reduced cost and greater efficiency.
Matthew Franchetti (Committee Chair)
Ioan Marinescu (Committee Member)
Ashok Kumar (Committee Member)
Yue Zhang (Committee Member)

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Alsaadi, N. (2017). An Integrated Life Cycle Assessment and Optimization Approach for Automotive De-manufacturing Systems [Doctoral dissertation, University of Toledo]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1484238682202343

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Alsaadi, Naif. An Integrated Life Cycle Assessment and Optimization Approach for Automotive De-manufacturing Systems. 2017. University of Toledo, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1484238682202343.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Alsaadi, Naif. "An Integrated Life Cycle Assessment and Optimization Approach for Automotive De-manufacturing Systems." Doctoral dissertation, University of Toledo, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1484238682202343

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)