Page 228 - Design for Environment A Guide to Sustainable Product Development

Pr oduct Life-Cycle Management 205

• The remanufacturing program includes repurposing prod-
ucts into completely different applications than originally
intended. For example, one pilot project will take back diesel
truck engines from North America, remanufacture them
into gas configurations that burn methane (a potent green-
house gas), package them into generator sets, and then deliver
them to the developing world to help meet local electric
power needs.

Thanks to its successful track record, the Reman Division has
emerged as a key pillar of Caterpillar’s future plans to focus on sus-
tainable development as a business strategy. The division’s commit-
ment to sustainability is evident not only in its manufacturing
operations but also in the office environment. From remanufactured
office furniture to art sculptures and office displays designed with
remanufactured parts and recycled content, sustainable development
is an inherent part of the Cat Reman culture.
Design for Remanufacturing
Caterpillar strives to integrate life-cycle thinking into its product
and process development activities. Accordingly, the company devel-
oped a business process called “Design for Remanufacturing,” which
was released enterprise-wide in 2006. The “Design for Reman” pro-
cess ensures that, as part of the new product development process,
all products are designed to optimize their remanufacture or recy-
cling at the end of their useful life.
Using this process, Caterpillar design teams consider the entire
product life cycle before the design phase even begins, considering
such things as type of material used and ease of disassembly for repair,
remanufacture, reuse, or recycling. By considering the product’s re -
manufacturing potential in the product design phase, Caterpillar
engineers have enabled some components to be in circulation for
multiple life cycles. Thus, product life-cycle management principles
have become a fundamental component of Caterpillar’s equipment,
engine, and service parts design. “Remanufacturability Design Guides”
have been developed and are accessible via the Division’s intranet
website, allowing engineers throughout the company to readily
view specifications and remanufacturing requirements when devel-
oping and designing new products, as well as modifying existing
products.
As a complement to the Design for Manufacturability thrust,
Caterpillar has introduced innovative business processes and capa-
bilities to support its dealers, customers, and employees:
• Since Caterpillar’s design focus includes the ability to reuse
and rebuild at end-of-life, the company has developed the
Cat Certified Rebuild Program to allow dealers to transform