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Remanufacturing and Advanced Machining
3.7 CONCLUDING REMARKS
Today’s engineers much more than ever are forced to deal with multiple systems,
subsystems, and supra-systems in a large variety of domains. It is enough just to
mention the number of available engineering materials, which is close to 100,000
and far beyond human ability to keep them all in mind usefully. Alteration of materials’ properties in processing, compositions of various structures in micro- and
nanoscale, and surface engineering methods provide endless combinations impossible to describe in full.
Therefore, the presented processes and techniques are far from a complete review
but give an insight into recent trends. These are pushed forward by increasing
demand for new materials with enhanced properties and additional functions, but
constrained by limited natural resources and environmental impact of processing
and numerous life-cycle phases of a product, including its reuse, remanufacturing, or
recycling. The concept of circular economy has become reality with its regulations
that have an effect on engineering activities. Thus, we decided to describe some of
the materials and methods in the context of the product life cycle, mostly focusing
on remanufacturing issues.
Another important context of the presented technologies is the CIM and especially the Industry 4.0 concept, which includes big data processing, cloud computing, industrial IoT, additive manufacturing systems, cyber–physical systems, digital
twins, and Next-Gen AI. Smart materials, smart tools, smart processes, and eventually smart factories not only improve the effectiveness of engineers’ activity but
also have a huge potential for taking over control and regulations in manufacturing
processes.
We believe that our book is helpful in understanding the main relations and links
between various systems of materials, their properties, processing parameters, and
product life-cycle issues. This understanding is crucial to engineers’ decision-making and finding good support for the decisions made at various stages of the product
life cycle. It should be kept in mind that engineers are responsible not only for the
safe work of a particular component or engineering system but for its long-term
impact on ecology, energy, and resource savings, as well as social life.
Remanufacturing and Advanced Machining
3.7 CONCLUDING REMARKS
Today’s engineers much more than ever are forced to deal with multiple systems,
subsystems, and supra-systems in a large variety of domains. It is enough just to
mention the number of available engineering materials, which is close to 100,000
and far beyond human ability to keep them all in mind usefully. Alteration of materials’ properties in processing, compositions of various structures in micro- and
nanoscale, and surface engineering methods provide endless combinations impossible to describe in full.
Therefore, the presented processes and techniques are far from a complete review
but give an insight into recent trends. These are pushed forward by increasing
demand for new materials with enhanced properties and additional functions, but
constrained by limited natural resources and environmental impact of processing
and numerous life-cycle phases of a product, including its reuse, remanufacturing, or
recycling. The concept of circular economy has become reality with its regulations
that have an effect on engineering activities. Thus, we decided to describe some of
the materials and methods in the context of the product life cycle, mostly focusing
on remanufacturing issues.
Another important context of the presented technologies is the CIM and especially the Industry 4.0 concept, which includes big data processing, cloud computing, industrial IoT, additive manufacturing systems, cyber–physical systems, digital
twins, and Next-Gen AI. Smart materials, smart tools, smart processes, and eventually smart factories not only improve the effectiveness of engineers’ activity but
also have a huge potential for taking over control and regulations in manufacturing
processes.
We believe that our book is helpful in understanding the main relations and links
between various systems of materials, their properties, processing parameters, and
product life-cycle issues. This understanding is crucial to engineers’ decision-making and finding good support for the decisions made at various stages of the product
life cycle. It should be kept in mind that engineers are responsible not only for the
safe work of a particular component or engineering system but for its long-term
impact on ecology, energy, and resource savings, as well as social life.