A Sustainable Application Based on Grouping Genetic Algorithm for Modularized Redesign Model in Apparel Reverse Supply Chain

Manoj Kumar Paras, Lichuan Wang, Yan Chen, Antonela Curteza, Rudrajeet Pal and Daniel Ekwall
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Manoj Kumar Paras: College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
Lichuan Wang: College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
Yan Chen: College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
Antonela Curteza: Faculty of Textile, Leather and Industrial Management, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iași, 700050 Iași, Romania
Rudrajeet Pal: Faculty of Textiles, Engineering and Business, University of Borås, Allégatan 1, 501 90 Borås, Sweden
Daniel Ekwall: Faculty of Textiles, Engineering and Business, University of Borås, Allégatan 1, 501 90 Borås, Sweden

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 9, 1-19

Abstract: The scarcity of natural resources and the problem of pollution have initiated the need for extending the life and use of existing products. The concept of the reverse supply chain provides an opportunity to recover value from discarded products. The potential for recovery and the improvement of value in the reverse supply chain of apparel has been barely studied. In this research, a novel modularized redesign model is developed and applied to the garment redesign process. The concept of modularization is used to extract parts from the end-of-use or end-of-life of products. The extracted parts are reassembled or reconstructed with the help of a proposed group genetic algorithm by using domain and industry-specific knowledge. Design fitness is calculated to achieve the optimal redesign. Subsequently, the practical relevance of the model is investigated with the help of an industrial case in Sweden. The case study finding reveals that the proposed method and model to calculate the design fitness could simplify the redesign process. The design fitness calculation is illustrated with the example of a polo t-shirt. The redesigned system-based modularization is in accordance with the practical situations because of its flexibility and viability to formulate redesign decisions. The grouping genetic algorithm could enable fast redesign decisions for designers.

Keywords: reuse design; upcycling; modularization; garment industry; sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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