Remanufacturing Furniture: Mapping the Process Flow and Assessing Environmental Impact

Abstract

Purpose This research has three main purposes. Firstly, to identify the key steps and critical activities of the process of remanufacturing furniture. Secondly, to assess the environmental impact of the process. Lastly, to provide targeted recommendations to improve the process of remanufacturing furniture. Methodology The methodology used in this thesis is based on a multiple case study design. The data was collected through document studies, one Gemba walk, and semi-structured interviews with six different Swedish furniture SMEs. Thematic analysis was used to extract key findings and support process mapping techniques, which were applied to visualise remanufacturing flows. Moreover, a partial Life Cycle Assessment was conducted to assess the environmental impacts specifically related to the remanufacturing stages. Findings The critical activities of remanufacturing are cost and workload appraisal, transportation, and manual labour. As for the environmental impact, it is clear that remanufacturing a piece of furniture for 15 years still has less impact on the environment than producing new furniture that lasts for 15 years. As for the targeted recommendations, they include digital tools, modularity, related technology, improve logistics, inter-company partnerships, and PaaS model. Implications This thesis proposes a practical framework combining process mapping and environmental assessment tailored for SMEs to visualise, evaluate, and improve their remanufacturing processes. The findings provide actionable insights for companies aiming to align operational practices with circular economy goals. Delimitations The case companies operate in Sweden and are categorised as furniture SMEs. The assessment is limited to the remanufacturing process and the environmental impact. Further research may be needed to improve the generalisability of all the findings discussed in this research.