Measuring Environmental Consciousness in Product Design and Manufacturing

Abstract

Adverse environmental impact, a consequence of the ever-increasing industrial activities since the Industrial Revolution, is a growing global problem. Corrective measures in the last several decades have proven insufficient and ineffective to remedy such environ mental damage. To protect the world we live in, it is necessary to adopt a preventive approach to environmental pollution. In order to elimi nate the problems from the very source, Environmentally Conscious Manufacturing (ECM), Design for Environment (DfE), and Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) are now being pursued, falling under the paradigm of Concurrent Engineering (CE). This has led to the need of this research to define environmental consciousness, and to analyze its design implications. Environmental decision-making at the design stage of a product is considered vital to preventing negative environmental impact. Based on concems of all phases in the product life cycle, this re search defines seven criteria to measure environmental consciousness, including recyclability, reusability, maintainability/serviceability, emissions, energy consumption, materials, and durability. It also examines their significance and implications for design. Interactions among these criteria are analyzed by classifying their relationships as positive, negative, and partially positive and negative. To further quantify the degree of environmental consciousness of product design, mathematical and graphical representation of the imprecise environmental data is exemplified.