Design Aspects in Repairability Scoring Systems: Comparing Their Objectivity and Completeness

Sagar Dangal, Jeremy Faludi and Ruud Balkenende
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Sagar Dangal: Industrial Design Engineering, TU Delft, Landbergstraat 15, 2628CE Delft, The Netherlands
Jeremy Faludi: Industrial Design Engineering, TU Delft, Landbergstraat 15, 2628CE Delft, The Netherlands
Ruud Balkenende: Industrial Design Engineering, TU Delft, Landbergstraat 15, 2628CE Delft, The Netherlands

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 14, 1-17

Abstract: The Circular Economy Action Plan adopted by the European Commission aims to keep value in products as long as possible through developing product-specific requirements for durability and repairability. In this context, various scoring systems have been developed for scoring product repairability. This study assessed the objectivity and completeness of six major repair scoring systems, to see what further development may be required to make them policy instruments for testing product repairability. Completeness of the scoring systems was assessed by comparing them to the latest literature on what design features and principles drive product repairability. Objectivity was determined by assessing whether the scoring levels in each criterion were clearly defined with a quantifiable and operator-independent testing method. Results showed that most of the criteria in the scoring systems were acceptably objective and complete. However, improvements are recommended: The health and safety criterion lacked objectivity and has not yet been fully addressed. Further research is required to expand the eDiM database, and to identify whether the additional accuracy provided by eDiM compared to disassembly step compensates for the increased difficulty in testing. Finally, assessment of reassembly and diagnosis should be expanded. Addressing these gaps will lead to the development of a scoring system that could be better used in policymaking, and for assessment by consumer organizations, market surveillance authorities, and other interested stakeholders, to promote the repairability of products.

Keywords: repairability; scoring system; design features; design principles; scorecards; assessment method; Circular economy; waste of electric and electronic equipment; assessment tools (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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