In the context of the global transition toward carbon neutrality and the circular economy, remanufacturing has emerged as a vital strategy for enhancing resource efficiency and reducing environmental impact. However, the remanufacturing sector faces significant uncertainties—including fluctuations in market demand, variability in the quality of returned products, and dynamic policy changes. These factors collectively challenge production decision-making and system sustainability. Following the preferred peporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, this study conducted a systematic review and bibliometric analysis of 98 core articles published between 2015 and 2024, with a focused examination of three interdisciplinary themes: (1) decision-making and optimization under uncertainty, (2) supply chain coordination and policy mechanisms, and (3) digital transformation and the application of emerging technologies. A novel micro–meso–macro analytical framework is proposed to integrate fragmented findings. The results highlight a paradigm shift from static models to dynamic, real-time decision-making systems, facilitated by digital twins (DTs), blockchain, and intelligent algorithms. Furthermore, the study identifies the synergistic effects of carbon-financial instruments and policy incentives in aligning economic and environmental objectives. This research develops a systematic framework to understand and address uncertainties in remanufacturing, offering policymakers and industry practitioners actionable insights to enhance the resilience, sustainability, and global applicability of remanufacturing systems.

To address the sustainability challenges faced by the machinery manufacturing industry, this study establishes an emergy-based evaluation framework that integrates four dimensions—economic, social, ecological, and sustainability—to comprehensively assess the sustainability of mechanical manufacturing systems. An empirical study was conducted on the balance shaft housing manufacturing system of AH Axle Co., Ltd. Results reveal that the system exhibits a relatively low net emergy yield ratio (NEYR), with an emergy investment ratio (EIR) of 2.27 and an improved emergy sustainable index (IESI) of 0.44, indicating poor social benefits and weak long-term sustainability. However, through the optimization of finishing and casting processes, the emergy waste rate (EWR) decreased from 12.96% to 9.86%, substantially enhancing overall sustainability. This study not only provides a novel perspective and practical tool for sustainability assessment in mechanical manufacturing systems but also offers significant theoretical and practical implications for promoting green transformation and sustainable development across the industry.