Selecting product EOL strategy via case-based reasoning

Abstract

Due to worldwide stricter regulations on EOL product treatment, EOL strategy determination has becomes important lately. This study uses case-based reasoning methods for EOL strategy determination. EOL strategy is chosen by comparing the underlined product's characteristics with existing cases in a case database. Finding EOL strategies of the old cases that are most similar to the new case facilitates the strategy selection. Fifty old cases and five new cases are used to illustrate the application potential of the CBR approach. The agreement between the strategies recommended by CBR and by a previous study demonstrates good potential of the proposed method. More cases and a systematic approach for weight determination may be needed for further application.