Sustainable Networks for WEEE Treatment: A Case Study

The paradigm of sustainable manufacturing equally implies the implementation of new technologies and their proper use within supply networks along product life cycle. In particular, this paper analyses the case of WEEE which requires the configuration of dedicated de/re-production networks to change the state-of-the-art processes thanks to the introduction of new production systems to improve capability of a region to treat this particular kind of waste. A modular approach is here proposed to evaluate the impact of each EOL process creating what-if scenarios for the network configuration. Using discrete-event simulation it was evaluated how the implementation of innovative de/re-manufacturing centers to re-work WEEE components (i.e. Printed Circuit Boards-PCBs) can change the sustainability of a certain geographical area taking into consideration the management of flows from pre-treatment centers to the new plants.