Pandemics and other forms of epidemic outbreaks are a unique case of manufacturing risk typified by high uncertainty, increasing propagation and long-term disruption to manufacturers, supply chain actors as well as the end-users and consumers. For manufacturing the COVID-19 disruption scope has been largely two-fold; an endogenous disruption of manufacturing processes and systems as well as extreme shifts in demand and supply caused by exogenous supply chain disruption. Existing literature on disruptions in manufacturing suggests that pandemics are qualitatively different from typical disruptions. There is no literature available to manufacturing practitioners that identify the barriers and enablers of manufacturing resilience, especially with regards to pivoting of the manufacturing sector in response to a pandemic. This study draws on an extensive survey collected during the COVID-19 pandemic. The respondents were employees of manufacturing firms in all regions of the world who had engaged in manufacturing during the pandemic or had opted out from manufacturing due to various identified reasons. By collating their responses, we offer to practitioners and policymakers an analysis for identifying a best-practice framework for pivoting successfully as a response to major manufacturing disruptions.

Data driven organizations such as Amazon and Uber have raised the capabilities and expectations of customers to a new level by providing faster and cheaper products and services. The reviewed literature documented that 10–15% of the online products are returned and in many cases such products are not shelf-ready due to product obsolescence or slight wear and tear, thereby reducing profits. Many of these products are disposed of in landfills. There were very few publications that documented how integration of digitized product life cycle into the business model improves product returns and the remanufacturing processes. As societies continue on, environmentally responsible, digital journeys with connected devices and people, reverse supply chains and remanufacturing will play increased importance in fulfilling customers expanded expectations. The networks are evolving, wherein, data are collected from all phases of the product lifecycles from design, prototype, manufacturing, usage aftermarket, returns remanufacturing and recycling. The objective of this paper’s authors was to describe how all phases of product life cycles can be digitized to improve global reverse supply chains and remanufacturing. The authors performed a literature review and developed case studies to document current and to predict future transformational waves that will become increasingly used in many industrial sectors. The authors made recommendations about the importance of improved product design, reduced processing costs and increased use of remanufactured products based upon data on returns to manufacturers and service providers. This paper contributes to research by providing a framework of a digitized product life cycle integrated with the business process phases including remanufacturing and supported with real-world case studies for practitioners and academicians. The authors outlined potential future topics for academic researchers and practitioners, for expanding usage of digital tools in real-time predictive analytics to improve remanufacturing system’s efficiency and quality.

There is plenty of research describing remanufacturing (reman) as the ultimate form of recycling. However, few studies have shown how standards that provide universally accepted definitions and practices can shift towards digitization and how digital technology can act as a catalyst for digital reman. Furthermore, there is no clear direction as to why and how standards and digital technology should work together in reman. Only minimal research (one article from the SCOPUS database) has explored the intersection of these three areas: reman challenges, standards, and digital technology. Many challenges that reman companies face prevent them from successfully transitioning to sustainable production methods. The challenges include high cost of resources, complex parts design, limited core availability, lack of internationally accepted definitions and protocols, poor design of reverse logistics networks, and poor consumer perceptions. On the other hand, digital technology can act as an enabler fueling environmental resilience through innovation. This paper studies how standards can play a role in helping digital technology solve reman challenges, thereby achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal and providing significant opportunities for innovation for small and large enterprises transitioning towards digital reman. The current study is validated by highly experienced reman professionals using the analytical hierarchical process. It is intended to help practitioners assess their organization’s current manufacturing practices and improve resource productivity and business growth using the identified standards and technologies. Three-dimensional printing was found to have the most potential in solving reman challenges. Surprisingly, the Internet of Things ranked low despite lacking information on used products or cores being a significant challenge for suppliers.