Evaluation of the Digital Product Passport for Remanufacturing: A Case Study Using Asset Administration Shell

Abstract

Remanufacturing extends product lifecycles and reduces waste, but its success depends on effective information exchange throughout the value chain. This article evaluates the impact of Digital Product Passport (DPP) on the efficiency of remanufacturing from operational, environmental, and social perspectives. A DPP integrated with a digital thread architecture was tested in a controlled experiment across two laboratories, simulating a real-world remanufacturing scenario. The study compared two approaches: one without DPP and one utilizing DPP for improved decision-making. The results showed that the DPP significantly reduced the remanufacturing cycle time by minimizing the variability in quality control. However, there are potential negative effects on environmental and social metrics. While DPPs enhance operational efficiency, further investigation is needed to understand their broader implications and establish protocols for their sustainable use.