Sustainable Production in a Circular Economy: A Business Model for Re-Distributed Manufacturing

Chris Turner, Mariale Moreno, Luigi Mondini, Konstantinos Salonitis, Fiona Charnley, Ashutosh Tiwari and Windo Hutabarat
Additional contact information
Chris Turner: Surrey Business School, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK
Mariale Moreno: The Manufacturing Department, Cranfield University, Bedford MK43 0AL, UK
Luigi Mondini: The Manufacturing Department, Cranfield University, Bedford MK43 0AL, UK
Konstantinos Salonitis: The Manufacturing Department, Cranfield University, Bedford MK43 0AL, UK
Fiona Charnley: Business School, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4PU, UK
Ashutosh Tiwari: Department of Automatic Control & Systems Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
Windo Hutabarat: Department of Automatic Control & Systems Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 16, 1-19

Abstract: The emergence of new technologies such as the Internet of Things, big data, and advanced robotics, together with risks such as climate change, rising labour costs, and a fluctuating economy, are challenging the current UK manufacturing model. In this paper, business models for re-distributed manufacture (RdM) are developed using anIDEF (Icam DEFinition for Function Modelling) description to serve as a guide for the implementation of the RdM concept in the consumer goods industry. This paper explores the viability of a re-distributed business model for manufacturers employing new manufacturing technologies such as additive manufacturing or three-dimensional (3D) printing, as part of a sustainable and circular production and consumption system. An As-Is value chain model is presented alongside the proposed new business model for a sustainable re-distributed manufacturing system. Both are illustrated via a case study drawn from the shoe manufacturing industry. The case study shows that there is a need for robust facilities in close proximity to the customer. These facilities are store fronts which can also manufacture, remanufacture, and provide services. The reduction in transportation and increase in customer involvement throughout the process are the main benefits that would accrue if a re-distributed model is implemented in the given industry.

Keywords: business model; re-distributed manufacturing; circular production; 3D printing; Industry 4.0 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (26)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/16/4291/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/16/4291/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:16:p:4291-:d:255865

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().