Increasing End-of-Life Recovery Profit Using Axiomatic Design Principles: A Case of Mobile Phone Keypad

Application of axiomatic design (AD) for the purpose of enhancing end-of-life recovery potential of a product has been the main focus of this paper. To demonstrate the usage of AD in this particular area, a case study that involves keypad assemblies of mobile phones is presented. The functional requirements (FR) of the two assemblies were defined differently (only Handset 2 involves refurbishment-related FRs). Using evaluation approach presented by Kwak and Kim (2010), it can be observed that when recovery-related requirements are omitted, application of AD produces a keypad assembly that fulfills the FRs derived from customer needs with more complicated product architecture. In contrast, when recovery-related FRs are included during problem definition using axiomatic approach, the disassemblability of the resulted keypad is improved and thus increasing recovery potential in the event of replacing defective keypad, while satisfying product-related FRs.