Reusing used components in new product generations - a systematic literature review on challenges and future research

This paper presents a systematic literature review to figure out challenges of integration of used components into new product generations. Reuse of components is an essential strategy of circularity and is becoming highly relevant as resources are limited and sustainability requirements have to be meet across industries. The reuse process was examined from a constructive perspective. It was found that the reuse process is not uniformly defined and that there is a divergent understanding of it. This divergent understanding continues through the Reuse process steps and the added value of using Reuse. Various technical challenges of reuse were identified. These challenges were translated into requirements that are intended to enable reuse for used components. An initial concept for solving the design problem of integrating used components is proposed with the help of these requirements.