ToolTrace - Cutting Tool Traceability enabling Human Behaviors for circularity

Purpose and goal:

The goal is to develop a decision support system that drives adoption and user behaviors for efficient recycling of used tools in the metalworking industry. We want to understand the interaction between metalworking companies and their suppliers of tools and materials for the manufacturing process today. This is to develop, test and implement a platform for tool and material traceability that leads to more valuable recycling, including business models that support user behavior in all parts of the value chain.

Expected results and effects:

The benefits for collaborating partners co-developing the platform and testing the decision support tool is estimated to be substantial as the project could roll out a proactive support for manufacturing industries to be in the forefront of recycling tools and other waste from metal-cutting, contributing to the transition towards circular

economy. Immense societal and environmental gains are foreseen if a functioning ecosystem is in place, between larger tool suppliers and their material suppliers, small contract manufacturers, and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Approach and implementation:

The project is organized in 5 WPs with a coordinating part, integrating the other partners; WP1 Project management, WP2 Define the circular loop, WP3 man-technology interaction, WP4 Demonstrator development, WP5 Develop a conceptual decision support system for circularity.