Knowledge management in ecological design environment-friendly product design strategies and design enabling both easy assembly and disassembly

Summary form only given. In the life cycle of a product, the aim of assembly during the manufacturing process is to make a product, so all the parts in the product fall within the operation range. On the other hand, the aims of disassembly during the life cycle of a product include the replacement of expendable parts, the removal of reusable parts, and the separation of components that can be recycled. The operation range for disassembly differs from that for assembly, and does not necessarily cover all parts. As the range for disassembly and assembly differ, it is important to determine the range required to achieve both assembly and disassembly ease. When using a design to achieve both disassembly and assembly ease, the overlapping range must be kept a minimum. To achieve both easy assembly and disassembly, the overlapping range for assembly and disassembly should be minimized, and the range required for mutual design limited. This design approach is called assembly and disassembly "design minimizing overlapping range", which means design that reduces disassembly time, a major consideration when calculating assembly and disassembly costs. By comparing the operation factors, operation proficiency and machinery and tools relating to mutual design and reciprocal design factors, it can be ascertained that the deciding factors for mutual design are operating factors, machinery and tool symmetry, and achievement of operation proficiency in a short period. This confirms that mutual design is beneficial in a work environment where assembly and disassembly are performed repeatedly. In line with this, it is clear that to achieve both easy assembly and disassembly, it is important to maximize the symmetry of mutual design factors with respect to overlapping range for assembly and disassembly. This design approach is called assembly and disassembly "design maximizing symmetrical range", which consideration when calculating assembly and disassembly costs