Configure-To-Order (CTO) Manufacturing and Its Potential to Reduce Electronic Waste
Research Overview for the United Metrolite Central Initiative Project Center Introduction Electronic waste (e-waste) has become one of the fastest-growing waste streams worldwide. Millions of computers, smartphones, and other electronic devices are discarded every year as technology advances and consumer demand increases. According to global assessments by the United Nations University and the International Telecommunication Union, global e-waste generation exceeded 60 million metric tons annually , with only a fraction formally recycled. One strategy proposed by researchers and manufacturers to reduce waste and improve production efficiency is Configure-To-Order (CTO) manufacturing. CTO systems allow products—such as laptops—to be built according to a customer’s selected configuration rather than mass-produced in fixed models. This article summarizes research on CTO manufacturing and explains how it may help reduce electronic waste. What Is Configure-To-Order (CTO)? Configure-To-Orde...