A data management framework for life cycle simulation in extruded Aluminium products production

Abstract

Sustainability analysis in complex systems demands dynamic rather than static methodologies. Technological advances allow industry to model the life cycle of their products and services towards making better decisions regarding their environmental, economic, and social dimensions. Life Cycle Simulation (LCS) is a time-dependent simulation tool used for testing and estimation of scenarios, capable of addressing sustainability loads. Aluminium (Al) is present in most modern applications and technologies, being a strategic material for the green future. Due to this global outspread, the Al supply chain has a multiple net of nodes and flows and when second life Al is considered the system gains complexity. The LCS is an appropriate tool when considering the analysis of loads from the life cycle of Al products. A crucial step when performing a LCS is input data management. Appropriate care should be taken because poor data quality yields voided simulation results. In this sense, the goal of this paper is to present a data management framework for LCS of an Al product production line. The process route includes casting, extrusion, forming, and welding. The structured methodology will cover relevant processes with accuracy and variation implications. The framework will greatly support practitioners in providing time efficiency and precise input data management in the Al supply chain.