Combining Stage-Gate™ model using Set-Based concurrent engineering and sustainable end-of-life principles in a product development assessment tool

Abstract

The challenge to develop sustainable products increases as resources becomes scarcer. Lifecycle Assessment (LCA) and Ecodesign have emerged to diminish product environmental impact from material gaining to disposal. LCA methods and tools, however, were not conceived to spur product design activities and decisions towards sustainable End-of-life (EoL) product conception, while Ecodesign requires major changes to be implemented. This research aimed to develop an assessment tool based on Stage-Gate model, Toyota's Set-Based approach and EoL Sustainable Principles to be used by enterprises, with three increasing sustainability levels to be selected. An application example of the tool is also detailed with a hypothetic development of an automobile seat, with environmental impact performances measured with SimaPRO and compared with an actual automobile seat conventionally designed, showing the sort of results are expected.