Optimization for sustainable manufacturing based on axiomatic design principles: a case study of machining processes

Abstract

A B S T R A C T A R T I C L E I N F O Despite being a wasteful process, machining is often regarded as an important manufacturing method due to the fact that it is a flexible and economic process. However, in order to gain more cost-saving and enhanced environmental performance, sustainability principles have to be incorporated into machining technologies. A step-wise optimization procedure is proposed based on axiomatic design (AD) principles for identifying an optimized sustainable manufacturing solution that comprises combinations of minimum and maximum levels obtainable within the constraints involved (cutting condition, performance and sustainability). A case study involving three alternative processes (namely conventional machining, high pressure jetassisted machining, and cryogenic machining) is presented for demonstrating the application of the proposed approach, which indicated that the suggested procedure is able to facilitate an optimization process by varying the design parameters (DPs) within a particular sequence. In the case study, a hybrid model consisting of crisp and fuzzy AD analysis techniques was also used for analysing the sustainability performances of the processes being considered. The hybrid model is able to point out the most viable machining process that satisfies all the sustainable functional requirements (FRs) by using information content for indication purposes.