Abstract: For the uncertainty issue of “cores” in the remanufacturing procedure, the main concept and features of active remanufacturing, in which the products are “actively” remanufactured in a reasonable timing for the optimazed benefits, is presented. With discussing the main characteristics and analyzing the time interval for active remanufacturing, the decision-making method for the upper limit and the bottom limit of time interval is studied. The upper limit of time interval, when it is appropriate to remanufacture the product since the performance indicators are worse in the life cycle, depends on the life cycle energy consumption and cost as the optimizing factors. Based on the game theory, the conflicts between the decision factors are converted into mathematical model to prognosticate the upper limit of time interval. Meanwhile, the bottom limit of time interval is the decisive time when it is inapposite to remanufacture the product with the complicated processes and high cost. Informed by neural network theory, the critical moment, when the component lost its remanufacturing value, is determined with several indexes that expressed the deterioration degree of this component, and the bottom limit of time interval is decided. A certain type of gear-box input shaft parts is demonstrated as the case study to validate the time interval decision-making methods for active remanufacturing.

Key words: Active remanufacturing, Conflict resolution, Prognostication, Time interval