2. Acquiring product knowledge: product dissection

What is known as "product dissection" involves systematically dismantling the product whose environmental performance is to be improved. To do this, the product is taken apart, and each part is weighed and characterized. Where possible, you will need to determine the type of material used and the manufacturing process involved. In the context of eco-design focusing on end-of-life management, it is very useful to measure the dismantling time, identify the dismantling tools used, and characterize the assembly connections. The result of such a dissection is a exploded view of the product arranged according to the accessibility of the subsystems and constituent parts.

In the case of complex products, those with a large number of parts, or virtual products, this step can be carried out using the product bill of materials, 3D simulations, and expert opinions.