Drivers and Constraints of Remanufacturing: A Global Bibliometric Review

  • Mohd Rizaimy Shaharudin Universiti Teknologi MARA
  • Azyyati Anuar Universiti Teknologi MARA
  • Preecha Wararatchai Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University
  • Natapat Areerakulkan Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University
  • Wissawa Aunyawong Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University
Keywords: Remanufacturing, Circular Economy, Bibliometric Analysis, Sustainability Drivers, Barriers to Adoption

Abstract

This study aims to provide a global bibliometric review of scholarly research concerning the drivers and constraints in the domain of remanufacturing, which also seeks to provide a blueprint of the intellectual structure and thematic evolution, along with collaboration patterns in this important area of sustainability. This study reviews 1,162 publications from Scopus’s 2015–2025 database, employing bibliometric methods using VOSviewer and Harzing’s Publish or Perish software. This study measures the trends in publications, authorship, subject areas, and keyword co-occurrence networks. The results show an exponential increase in research output since 2019, with Environmental Science and Engineering dominating the publications. Research output stems from the drivers which include the absence of policy and regulatory support, economic incentives and profitability, sustainability and resource efficiency, market demand and consumer behaviour, and technological improvement. The constraints of research output include consumer perception and acceptance, high initial investment and financial viability, lack of skilled workforce, product design and technical obstacles, and reverse logistics and supply chain uncertainty. Research also shows the strong interdisciplinary nature of the field. The primary focus of research is still concentrated in Europe and East Asia. By integrating ten years of worldwide research, this study aims to create a systematic evidence base for academics and practitioners. In closing, it advocates for research on remanufacturing to be more inclusive, context-sensitive, and transdisciplinary so that remanufacturing can develop as a scalable, equitable, and transformative component of the circular economy.

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Author Biography

Mohd Rizaimy Shaharudin, Universiti Teknologi MARA

Mohd Rizaimy Shaharudin is an Associate Professor with the Faculty of Business and Management at the Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Kedah Branch. He has been the Deputy Director of Logistics and Transportation for Research Nexus of UiTM (ReNeU), UiTM Shah Alam from 2021 to 2023. He holds a PhD in Supply Chain Management from Universiti Sains Malaysia. He served 12 years in the manufacturing industry, specifically in the automotive industry. He has been appointed as a Visiting Professor for two terms, spanning four years at Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Thailand. He is currently a National Design Centre (NDC) member and an Associate Fellow at the Smart Manufacturing Research Institute (SMRI). He has over 100 scientific publications in articles, conference proceedings, books and book chapters. He has served as a referee for several top journals in the related field. He is also a member of the editorial board for several journals and the technical committee for international conferences.

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Published
2025-11-23
How to Cite
Shaharudin, M. R., Anuar, A., Wararatchai, P., Areerakulkan, N., & Aunyawong, W. (2025). Drivers and Constraints of Remanufacturing: A Global Bibliometric Review. Information Management and Business Review, 17(4(I), 141-163. https://doi.org/10.22610/imbr.v17i4(I).4748
Section
Research Paper