Papers by Claudio Sassanelli
Journal of cleaner production, Apr 1, 2024
Circular economy (CE) strategies are largely adopted in the manufacturing sector. Nevertheless, t... more Circular economy (CE) strategies are largely adopted in the manufacturing sector. Nevertheless, the benefits of circular strategies could be reduced by the occurrence of the rebound effect (RE), defined as resource overuse due to improved efficiency in a system. Understanding the causes, mechanisms, and characteristics of CE's REs is therefore crucial for the effective implementation of CE strategies in the manufacturing sector. The main gap concerns the limited understanding of the occurrence of RE within CE in manufacturing. To this concern, five domains (i.e., business models, drivers, product lifecycle management (PLM), circular manufacturing ecosystem, and socioeconomic aspects) have been initially identified in the twofold CE-RE domain. Starting from these, the paper aims to investigate and map the relations among these dimensions and unveil the related type of RE for each of them. To address this objective, a conceptual map, grounded on a systematic literature review (SLR), has been obtained to explore the five dimensions. The conceptual map showed the relations between the five dimensions and the possible occurrence of RE types (i.e., direct, indirect, economy-wide, and transformational). It turned out that the five dimensions are closely related. For example, socioeconomic aspects were influenced by the adoption of circular business models and have a role in PLM strategies. Instead, from a RE perspective, socioeconomic aspects dimension, linked to business model and PLM ones, could generate direct and indirect RE. The driver dimensions related to circular manufacturing and business models could cause economy-wide and transformational RE. The map of the relations obtained offers an initial framework to be exploited to prevent and mitigate possible CE's REs occurring in manufacturing.
Production planning & control, Mar 3, 2024
19th International Scientific Conference on Industrial Systems
Limitation and scarcity of natural resources, followed by rising demand and global competition fo... more Limitation and scarcity of natural resources, followed by rising demand and global competition for providing resources, emphasize vulnerability and dependance of different industries on import of these resources, considering increasing prices, volatility and uncertain political situations in supplier countries. European Commission explained Circular Economy (CE) as a model of production and consumption, which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible, resulting in the extension of the product’s life cycle and reduction of waste. Unlike the traditional linear economy based on “take-make-consume-dispose” approach, a CE strives to reduce consumption of raw materials and energy, greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions, material losses and waste, and to increase the usage of renewable or recyclable resources. In this context, it is hard to assess the readiness of companies willing to embrace the CE paradigm and ...
Frontiers in sustainability, Jul 9, 2024
IFIP advances in information and communication technology, 2024
Production & manufacturing research, May 7, 2024
The link between digital evolution and environmental sustainability is reshaping how companies en... more The link between digital evolution and environmental sustainability is reshaping how companies enhance their processes, contributing to address circular manufacturing (CM). The extant literature does not explain how to improve the tire production process to limit environmental negative impacts, which are its most critical phases, which Industry 4.0 technologies could be exploited and how they could intervene in the process to facilitate effective data management. This research proposes a framework indicating how digital technologies could support tire producers in reducing the ecological footprint of their operations. The proposed framework addresses ISO 14,046 and 14,067 International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certifications. Digital twin (DT) was chosen as the most suitable technology. The related framework was further detailed according to data-driven CM principles, providing the set of sensors to be embedded on the production process and defining the data and information to be gathered through them to address the requested ISO certifications.
IFIP advances in information and communication technology, Dec 31, 2022
Technological Forecasting and Social Change
IFIP advances in information and communication technology, 2018
Product Service System (PSS) development involves both manufacturing and service workers, carryin... more Product Service System (PSS) development involves both manufacturing and service workers, carrying them great potential to pursue industrial competitiveness, customer satisfaction and sustainable improvement. The belief is that the development level of PSS design is slowly evolving through a path strongly driven by the evolution of the technology and the progressive involvement of the industry in its application. However, on one side some companies still need to understand the relevance of the development process related to their service offer, on the other best practices able to improve the PSS development processes performances more systematically are needed. The paper proposes a case study, first providing a mapping of the service offer of Company A, an Italian company in the humidifiers industry. Then, it investigates, through a content analysis, what could affect companies both positively or negatively to switch their approach from a product-centric to a service integrated one. This transition would enable them in the future to develop more advanced PSSs, opening new market opportunities and being more capable of satisfying customer needs.
IFIP advances in information and communication technology, 2020
published version of the paper. Such differences, if any, are usually due to reformatting during ... more published version of the paper. Such differences, if any, are usually due to reformatting during preparation for publication or minor corrections made by the author(s) during final proofreading of the publication manuscript.
Customer demand for more individualization is shifting production models towards decentralized on... more Customer demand for more individualization is shifting production models towards decentralized ones. In order to keep up with a heterogeneous class of clients in a turbulent environment, companies are always more inclined towards mass customization. Realizing different kinds of products in line with customer needs without losing the advantages in terms of efficiency of mass production requires new configurations in manufacturing firms as well as a new kind and higher extent of collaboration with customers in the design process. Starting from the analysis of the literature concerning distributed manufacturing, cloud manufacturing and customer involvement, this paper proposes a model aimed at classifying manufacturing archetypes for distributed production.
International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Jul 19, 2022
Sustainability is a current challenge and all sectors, including the buildings one, are being cal... more Sustainability is a current challenge and all sectors, including the buildings one, are being called upon to provide a solution to mitigate climate change. The state of the art of energy management using Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) technology in building systems industry is characterized by a traditional monitoring approach which could assess the energy consumption of the building but that cannot manage and act the required action to improve the energy management according to a demand side approach. The aim of this paper is to overcome this traditional monitoring approach, presenting Simon, a new model proposed by Evogy, enabling a result-oriented product service system (PSS) for buildings through cyberphysical systems, artificial intelligence, and internet of things adoption. The main findings highlight the benefits associated with the Simon model by virtue of digital-based predictive maintenance on the real system. In addition, its adoption allows the PSS provider to aggregate energy demand from the plethora of buildings and, according to digital technologies, not only monitor consumption but also implement equipment. Finally, the application case highlights the benefits are different and thus stands as a best practice for combining sustainability and digitization.
Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Jun 4, 2022
Nowadays, to remain competitive, manufacturing companies must address the Industry 4.0 paradigm, ... more Nowadays, to remain competitive, manufacturing companies must address the Industry 4.0 paradigm, particularly the cyber-physical system (CPS) revolution, following sustainable challenges. Digital innovation hubs (DIHs), as ecosystems that provide technical knowhow, experimental skills, and specialist knowledge, are progressively gaining a strategic role in supporting such a transition, especially in European small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Several projects have been funded by the European Commission to support the growth and action of DIHs. However, which among the four main functionalities (networking, skills and training, test before investing, and access to funding) each DIH is capable of addressing in its daily support action to companies is still unclear. Thus, it is important to configure the service portfolios of DIHs (i.e. the set of services that each DIH can provide based on its characterising assets, knowledge, and capabilities). In this paper, the data-driven businessecosystem-skills-technology (D-BEST) reference model is proposed and then tested through a survey. The model triggers the identification and materialisation of servicebased collaboration processes among DIHs based on their service portfolio analysis and supports the modelling of Collaborative Networks 4.0, in which DIHs are a strategic player because of their 'by-design' innovation characteristics. Finally, through the extended adoption of the models developed by different emerging DIH networks, flexibility and interoperability can be reached, fostering the adoption of a unique digital platform to showcase and offer assets, triggering the creation of multiple inter-and intra-communications and collaborations among stakeholders belonging to the DIH ecosystems, and favouring the exchange and development of joint services.
Journal of Cleaner Production, Nov 1, 2020
Abstract Circular economy has recently emerged as an alternative industrial paradigm to the tradi... more Abstract Circular economy has recently emerged as an alternative industrial paradigm to the traditional “take, make, dispose” economic model, with the aim to promote more sustainable resource consumption patterns and production processes. However, more empirical research is needed to address the topic of how circular economy is adopted in practice by companies. In this study, we mainly adopt the lenses of circular business models and analyze three European case studies operating in the manufacturing industry that embraced circular economy principles in their business. In particular, the paper investigates and presents peculiar managerial practices to create and capture value in circular business models, and highlights the need to conceive a systemic perspective on the implementation of these practices, especially for companies operating in the manufacturing industry. Moreover, the paper shows to managers willing to embrace circular economy principles how the implementation of managerial practices for circularity can support the design of the manufacturing companies’ business model within which they operate. Finally, the paper argues about the role of a peculiar external condition, i.e., the environmental regulation, in influencing the way companies implement the managerial practices for circularity.
Globalization and consumerism behaviours are depleting natural resources and downgrading the envi... more Globalization and consumerism behaviours are depleting natural resources and downgrading the environment. This negative perspective is pushing worldwide the interest on Circular Economy (CE). CE wants to eliminate wastes, retain value from products and materials, foster the use of renewable energies and eliminate toxic chemicals. However, it is still not fully explained how to measure and assess the circularity performance of a system. To this aim, the paper wants to detect, through a systematic literature review, the existing CE performance assessment methods, by describing their relations with both product lifecycle stages and other methods.
Springer eBooks, 2022
Several manufacturing companies are coping with the need to change their business model, being co... more Several manufacturing companies are coping with the need to change their business model, being compelled to provide smart, connected and servitized solutions to their customers to survive in the market. A strategic trigger and catalyst of such a transition is represented by digital technologies. Embedded on physical products, digital technologies enable knowledge-based services capable not only of monitoring but also of controlling and optimize, sometimes even at an autonomous level, the system provided to the customer. However, several hurdles (categorized in technical/technological, organizational, human resources-related, and customer-related) can be met along the digital servitization path. It is still not clear what should be implemented in a company internally realizing the need of implementing the digital servitization transition. This paper has the aim of conducting a strategic analysis to understand how to initiate to the digital servitization phenomenon a company producing machineries for the decoration of plastic objects and containers.
Springer eBooks, 2021
The main aim of the FENIX project is the development of new business models and industrial strate... more The main aim of the FENIX project is the development of new business models and industrial strategies for three novel supply chains in order to enable value-added product-services. Through a set of success stories coming from the application of circular economy principles in different industrial sectors, FENIX wants to demonstrate in practice the real benefits coming from its adoption. In addition, Key Enabling Technologies (KETs) will be integrated within the selected processes to improve the efficient recovery of secondary resources. This chapter focuses on the definition of a novel Circular Economy Performance Assessment (CEPA) methodology to be adopted within the FENIX project. This implementation activity has been done into two steps. From one side, a state-of-the-art analysis of existing CE methodologies and related KPIs has been executed and the most common circularity assessment methods (and KPIs) have been identified. Subsequently, a totally new CEPA methodology has been developed starting from the findings coming from the literature. This methodology, together with classic LCA and LCC methods, will be exploited for the quantitative assessment of CBMs. 3.1 State of the Art on Circular Economy Performance Assessment Methods Circular Economy (CE) research is continuously evolving. Especially in the last years, this led both researchers and practitioners to understand how to measure and quantify its impacts in a real context. Trying to summarize the findings coming from an extensive literature review reported in [4], there is a strong orientation of CEPA methodologies on the environmental aspect of the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) of sustainability. Indeed, all the contributions involve the environmental perspective, either alone (37.
Nowadays, the need of reducing the negative impact of boats during their entire lifecycle is furt... more Nowadays, the need of reducing the negative impact of boats during their entire lifecycle is furtherly strengthened by the increasingly businesses and services carried out within the marine space. In this context, several regulations and research streams are aimed to cope with this need, leading to the final challenge to develop more suitable novel specialized vessels. However, in this context, the necessity to evaluate the environmental implications of this novel concept of specialized vessels shall be taken into account at the early design stage. This paper proposes a model for new specialized vessels, built on both theoretical and practical bases, opening the way to consistently conduct the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Costing (LCC) approach on such complex innovative maritime solutions and hence unleashing further researches in the stream.
Concurrent Engineering, Feb 8, 2021
Most methodologies developed to support the Product-Service System (PSS) design consider the inte... more Most methodologies developed to support the Product-Service System (PSS) design consider the integration of service features into the product design from a high-level of abstraction and are usually focused on the conceptual phase, neglecting the detailed level of design. Besides, the Knowledge Management perspective is not considered in those methodologies, also affecting how new design knowledge is created, formalized, and shared across the company’s organization. The PSS Design GuRu Methodology, grounded on Concurrent Engineering and Design for X approaches, was developed to fill these issues. This study presents how the PSS Design GuRu Methodology can be incorporated into a PSS detailed design process in a B2B company operating in the food and bakery machinery sector, focusing the analysis on its contribution to promoting Knowledge Management. In particular, a detailed case of development and integration of a service feature—the installation service—to a product in the PSS scope is conducted. The PSS Design GuRu Methodology proves to be effective in supporting the generation, management, use, sharing, and reuse of new knowledge in the shape of design guidelines and rules.
Journal of Cleaner Production, Nov 1, 2019
Abstract Since many years, companies are trying to cope with impressive technological growth rate... more Abstract Since many years, companies are trying to cope with impressive technological growth rates, severe environmental issues and even more restrictive national and international directives. However, innovative Business Models (BMs) and industrial strategies adequate to this new context are still either under development or implementation. To this aim, the article proposes a systematic literature review on existing Circular Business Models (CBMs) and their classification methods, by selecting the most promising ones. A total amount of 283 articles related with CBMs has been assessed into detail, by identifying: 5 archetypes, 9 classification methods, 5 adoption-oriented challenges, 4 decision-support tools and 3 additional research areas. Key findings demonstrate that: i) Product-Service Systems (PSSs)-oriented and Reuse, Remanufacturing and Recycling (3R)-based CBMs are the most common archetypes, ii) Business Model Canvas is the most diffused classification framework, iii) sustainability and company-based challenges are the most discussed by the experts and iv) sustainability check-oriented is the most common type of decision-support tools. These (and others) results could support both companies, researchers and governments in updating the current knowledge on CBMs and make them adoptable for practitioners from different industrial contexts.
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Papers by Claudio Sassanelli