Demand-oriented barriers and potentials for remanufacturing in Vietnam

Since the liberalisation of its economy, Vietnam has emerged as a key location for investment in workforce-intensive assembly processes operation, through an available and cheap workforce. Soaring national consumption levels for goods and services generate in turn unprecedented quantities of waste to be treated locally. In 2015, governmental decision 16/2015/QÐ-TTg set a basis for a national waste legislation for mechanical and electronic equipment goods. Remanufacturing is a non-destructive, industrial reuse strategy which aims at restoring products to original specifications by reusing a maximum number of original components in their current form. It has potential to provide Vietnam with an alternative to low value-added repair activities. As Vietnam is the fourth market for motorcycles in the world, this paper presents a case study about barriers and potentials for remanufacturing from the market and customer perspective. Potential solutions for supporting industrial development are suggested.