Integration of Sustainability Aspects in Product Development
| Document type: | Licentiates |
|---|---|
| Author(s): | Sophie Byggeth |
| Title: | Integration of Sustainability Aspects in Product Development |
| Translated title: | Integrering av hållbarhetsaspekter i produktutveckling |
| Year: | 2001 |
| ISSN: | 0280-2872 |
| Publisher: | Chalmers University of Technology and Göteborg University |
| City: | Göteborg |
| Organization: | Blekinge Institute of Technology |
| Department: | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering (Institutionen för maskinteknik) Dept. of Mechanical Engineering S-371 79 Karlskrona +46 455 38 50 00 http://www.ima.bth.se/ |
| Authors e-mail: | sophie.byggeth@bth.se |
| Language: | English |
| Abstract: | Integration of sustainability aspects into the product development process has been difficult to achieve, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises. The main reason is that existing tools are experienced to be too detailed and as a result too demanding in terms of time and resources. This Licentiate Thesis presents a method for sustainable product development (MSPD). The method is intended to be a complement to existing overarching sustainability management tools and detailed quantitative product analysis tools. The objectives of the MSPD are: (i) identification of potential problems of present or planned products caused by substances and activities during the product life cycle that are critical with regard to principles for sustainability; (ii) guidance in finding solutions to the potential problems by modifications of present or planned products, and (iii) promotion of new products and business ideas based on sustainability aspects. A method suitable for most enterprises, irrespective of product type or background knowledge, has been sought. The MSPD includes: (1) a management tool which supports the user with information about, and instructions for applying, the method; (2) a flexible model for an integrated product development process, including checklist questions concerning traditional aspects of product development; (3) a modular system of guiding questions concerning aspects of sustainability, and (4) a prioritisation matrix for evaluation and choice of proposals in each product development phase. A MSPD prototype has been developed and tested in six small and medium- sized enterprises to study the usability of the basic structure of the method, and to obtain ideas for improvements and further development. |
| Subject: | Mechanical Engineering\General Sustainability\General |
| Keywords: | sustainability, sustainable product development, MSPD, SPA. |
| URN: | urn:nbn:se:bth-00260 |
