A scientometric analysis of remanufacturing by mapping scientific, organizational and national concentration zones

The considerations of global sustainability have dramatically increased the importance of the remanufacturing process. Many scholars have started focusing on this vital area from both a management and an engineering point of view. Previous studies have aimed to categorize this area using traditional review approaches, using a smaller body of literature and mostly focusing on the managerial aspects of remanufacturing. Our study is the only study for which tech-mining and scientometric methods are used to examine remanufacturing research, for the purpose of identifying top actors and key trends with regards to business and technological approaches. We combine both management and engineering related studies in this scientometric study. The results shed light on the principal actors, nations, organizations and scientific domains in this field. Remanufacturing research is categorized using the co occurrence based clustering method. This study identifies four broad research clusters: (1) Production planning and control of remanufacturing, (2) Material and remanufacturing engineering, (3) Supply chain management of remanufacturing process and, (4) Remanufacturing applications and new trends. This study offers benefits to numerous parties: policymakers in the remanufacturing field, academics who wish to see the research domains and those practitioners interested in the key management, processes, and technologies of remanufacturing activities.