The circular economy is a model of production and consumption, which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible. In this way, the life cycle of products is extended. It implies reducing waste to a minimum.
On the other hand, reconfigurable manufacturing is a system used by manufacturers that emphasizes the importance of being able to change and evolve rapidly in order to adjust its productivity capacity and functionality.
In the article below, we’ll delve into these two terms, explore their connections and similarities, and discover how integrating both into your strategies can enhance productivity and deliver greater benefits.
2. Defining the Concepts
What is Circular Economy?
The circular economy is a system where materials never become waste and nature is regenerated. In a circular economy, products and materials are kept in circulation through processes like maintenance, reuse, refurbishment, remanufacture, recycling, and composting.
The circular economy is based on three principles: eliminate of waste and pollution, circulate products and materials (at their highest value) and regenerate nature.
What is Reconfigurable Manufacturing?
Reconfigurable manufacturing refers to a manufacturing system designed with the flexibility to adapt quickly and efficiently to changes in product design, production volume, or process requirements. It uses modular and scalable hardware and software to reconfigure the system as needed, often allowing for customization and innovation while reducing downtime and costs.
Reconfigurable manufacturing systems are designed to adapt rapidly to changes in product demand, production capacity, and functionality. It emphasizes modularity, integrability, scalability, convertibility, and diagnosability to respond swiftly to market fluctuations
Reconfigurable manufacturing typically includes key characteristics like:
- Modularity: machines and tools are designed to be easily modified or replaced.
- Scalability: the system can scale up or down depending on production requirements.
- Customization: Rapid adjustments can be made to meet specific customer or product needs.
- Interoperability: different system components work together seamlessly.
3. Synergies Between Circular Economy and Reconfigurable Manufacturing
The alignment between Circular Economy principles and reconfigurable manufacturing creates opportunities to enhance sustainability and resource efficiency. The following points highlight key synergies between the two concepts:
- Life cycle alignment: Both circular and reconfigurable manufacturing emphasise extending the life cycle of resources and assets through strategies like remanufacturing, reuse, recycling, and maintenance activities.
- Asset maintenance for sustainability: Maintenance activities in reconfigurable systems contribute to asset regeneration, reducing downtime, and optimizing resources. This supports circular economy’s goal of reducing resource consumption and waste.
- Circular design: Circular design practices, although limited in adoption, enhance reconfigurable manufacturing by promoting adaptability.
- Operational efficiency: Reconfigurable manufacturing systems complement circular economy by improving resource efficiency and enabling cleaner production, which reduces environmental impacts.
- System integration: Integrating circular economy strategies within reconfigurable manufacturing promotes a long-term orientation, facilitating better decision-making in asset acquisition, use, and end-of-life management.
4. Real applications
In R3GROUP, we are developing and implementing resilience and reconfigurability solutions into different pilot companies. You can read below the advancements of two use cases (automotive and rubber and plastics sector):
GESTAMP Pilot Use Case in R3GROUP project: piloting innovative solutions for the automative sector
Transforming Plastic Manufacturing: GLN PLAST’s Journey with R3GROUP
About R3GROUP technologies
R3GROUP believes in the power of rapid reconfigurability and digitalization solutions to transform the agility of the manufacturing sector and build more resilient supply chains capable of adapting to unpredictable events.
We are developing technologies that will improve the resilience and reconfigurability of manufacturing processes applied to different sectors such as automotive, and wearing apparel.
R3GROUP will offer the possibility to test their solutions to address rapid reconfigurability in all production levels, ranging from the factory to the machinery and to each individual process step, as well as the interaction with the supply chain.
Want to be one of those beneficiaries? Join the R3GROUP newsletter and we’ll let you know once you can apply for it!
References
- Acerbi, F., Polenghi, A., Roda, I., Macchi, M., & Taisch, M. (2020). Exploring synergies between circular economy and asset management. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, 592, 685–692. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57997-5_80
- Koren, Y., Jovane, F., Heisel, U., Moriwaki, T., Pritschow, G., Ulsoy, G., & Van Brussel, H. (1999). Reconfigurable manufacturing systems. CIRP Annals, 48(2), 6–12.
- Mehrabi, M. G., Ulsoy, A. G., & Koren, Y. (2000). Reconfigurable manufacturing systems: Key to future manufacturing. Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, 11(4), 403–419.
- Monroe Engineering. (n.d.). What is a reconfigurable manufacturing system? Retrieved January 23, 2025, from https://monroeengineering.com/blog/what-is-a-reconfigurable-manufacturing-system/
- European Parliament. (2015, December 1). Circular economy: Definition, importance and benefits. European Parliament. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/topics/en/article/20151201STO05603/circular-economy-definition-importance-and-benefits
- Ellen MacArthur Foundation. (n.d.). Circular economy introduction: Overview. Ellen MacArthur Foundation. https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/topics/circular-economy-introduction/overview