remanufacture
ree-man-yuh-FAK-cher
/ˌriː.mæn.jəˈfæk.tʃɚ/
To rebuild or process an already manufactured product back to original performance specifications, accompanied by a full warranty.
Far more rigorous than simple repair or refurbishment; remanufactured goods perform as well as or better than new products.
The story behind the word. Combining the prefix 're-' with 'manufacture' (literally 'to make by hand'), remanufacturing emerged as an industrial discipline during World War II due to material shortages, when military vehicles and engines had to be restored to factory precision.
Word relationships
- rebuild: Rebuild implies repairing a broken system; remanufacture implies industrial restoration meeting strict original tolerances.
- recondition: Recondition often means repairing worn parts without guaranteeing original factory performance levels.
- scrap: Discarding an item entirely for raw material destruction.
Commonly confused with
- refurbish: Refurbishing fixes cosmetic or functional defects on a used product; remanufacturing completely disassembles and restores it to like-new specification.
Word family
- remanufacturing (noun): The industrial process of restoring used goods to like-new condition.
- remanufactured (adjective): Restored industrially to original specifications.
Collocations
- remanufacture equipment
- remanufacture components
- remanufacture engines
Example sentences
- "Heavy machinery manufacturers remanufacture diesel engines to identical standards of new factory models." Automotive Sector
- "Tax incentives for companies that remanufacture medical gear decreased hospital capital expenditure." Circular Economy Policy
Memory hook
RE-MANUFACTURE: Manufacturing a second time to original quality. Factory restored to like-new precision.
When not to use
Do not confuse with standard recycling (melting down) or superficial cosmetic cleaning.
Fun facts
- Remanufacturing typically uses up to 85% less energy and raw materials than making a brand new product from virgin ore.
Related words
Explore more words
production, remediate, renewable, renovation, restore, revitalize
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