In this research, a decision support model for coordinating sustainable product and supply chain design decisions is developed using a multi-stage hierarchical approach. The model evaluates alternate product designs and their corresponding supply chain configurations to identify the best product design and the corresponding supply chain configuration that maximizes the economic, environmental and societal benefits. The model considers a total life-cycle approach and incorporates closed-loop flow among multiple product lifecycles. In the first stage, a mixed integer linear programming model is developed to select for each product design an optimal supply chain configuration that maximizes the profit. In the subsequent stages, the economic, environmental and societal multiple life-cycle analysis models are developed which assess the economic, environment and the societal performance of each product design and its optimal supply chain configuration to identify the best product design with highest sustainability benefits. The decision support model is applied for an example problem to illustrate the procedure for identifying the best sustainable design. Later, the model is applied for a real-time refrigerator case to identify the best refrigerator design that maximizes economic, environmental and societal benefits. Further, sensitivity analysis is performed on the optimization model to study the closed-loop supply chain behavior under various situations. The results indicated that both product and supply chain design criteria significantly influence the performance of the supply chain. The results provided insights into closed-loop supply chain models and their behavior under various situations. Decision support models such as above can help a company identify the best designs that bring highest sustainability benefits, can provide a manager with holistic view and the impact of their design decisions on the supply chain performance and also provide areas for improvement.

Limited asset visibility is a key problem in the management of returnable transport items (RTIs) like reusable containers, pallets and kegs. One tool to increase asset visibility is radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. However, RFID requires high investment cost and intensive efforts for implementation. In this study, we investigate the added value of using RFID technology for the management of the RTI pool in a closed-loop supply chain setting considering both costs and benefits. We have conducted a case study in a company which has recently started an RFID application in its closed-loop supply chain of RTIs. The aim of this case study is to identify and understand how an existing RTI pool is managed and the impact of using RFID technology on the management of such an RTI pool. In order to quantify the added value of RFID technology in RTI pool management, we search for the minimum cost solutions both without and with the use of RFID technology in a problem environment similar to that of our case study using the simulation optimization method. We also analyze the impact of using RFID technology on RTI pool management in terms of several performance measures, including RTI pool size, RTI lifetime, RTI trippage and the cycle time for RTIs to complete one trip in the closed-loop supply chain. In our study, we develop a number of discrete event simulation models of the identified closed-loop supply chain of RTIs operating with our predetermined decision rules for the RTI pool management using the simulation software Arena. We then develop our simulation optimization model in OptQuest for Arena in which the discrete event simulation models are embedded. The results from the simulation optimization method show that the added value of using RFID technology is mostly positive and it depends on the severity of the problematic issues in the closed-loop supply chain, as well as on the extent of improvements that RFID brings about.

Det finns förbättringspotential för att öka den cirkulära ekonomin i Sverige, som idag är 3,4 procent. Återbruk av byggmaterial i byggbranschen är en åtgärd, som genererar till en cirkulär förbättring. I uppsatsen belyses utmaningar och möjligheter associerade med återbruk av byggmaterial, som förekommer hos aktörer längs försörjningskedjan. En generell tanke som ofta förekommer är att återbrukat byggmaterial genererar till ökade kostnader, vilket det i uppsatsen påvisas åtskilda åsikter kring. Vidare studeras det som krävs för att lyckas implementera en cirkulär ekonomi i byggbranschen genom affärsmodeller och strategier. Genom att lyckas implementera en cirkulär ekonomi och utveckla expertis inom området, påvisar teori att även konkurrensfördelar kan frambringas. / There is potential for improvement to increase the circular economy in Sweden, which today is 3.4 percent. Reuse of building materials in the construction industry is one action, which generates a circular improvement. The study highlights challenges and opportunities associated with the reuse of building materials faced by different actors along the supply chain. A common understanding is that reused building materials generate increased costs, which the study demonstrates separate opinions about. Furthermore, the requirements to succeed in implementing a circular economy in the construction industry are studied together with business models and strategies for implementation. By succeeding in implementing a circular economy and developing expertise in the field, theory shows that competitive advantages can be generated.