Product configuration is shaping the future of sustainable manufacturing
After the event we were able to speak with one of our guest speakers, Irene Campo Gay. Irene is a mechanical and industrial design engineer getting her Ph.D. at the Technical University of Denmark. Irene has a focus on configurators that can be used as sustainability assessment tools. Why is there a focus on product configurations and sustainability?
First, product sustainability is a critical topic that is becoming more and more talked about in the media. Second, users are demanding more transparency on sustainability information. Finally, and most importantly, there will be more sustainability legislation, which will push the need for tools to meet these requirements. What are some common approaches to using sustainability assessment tools?
There is a need to guide users towards more sustainable choices and have them think outside of the box. Second, they need to assess the sustainability of the choices, and quantify which goals they will measure.
How can you use configurators as decision support systems for sustainability?
During the configuration it’s important to give recommendations, such as the most sustainable option, or show which choice will meet their goals. Secondly, showing alternative solutions such as numerical and graphical representations of how their choice affects sustainability.
This guidance isn’t possible without an assessment of the sustainability of each choice. Making it critical to quantify sustainability. There are different ways to quantify sustainability. One way of approaching the matter is through environmental assessment methods,. one popular one is life cycle assessment (LCA). LCA is a methodology for assessing environmental impacts associated with all the stages of the life cycle of a commercial product, process, or service.
What are other sustainability measures (prior to sustainability/environmental methods application) in which configurators have already found success?
For example, there are many companies who have improved waste reduction through configurators. Another good example is avoiding the over design of customized products.
And now, how can configurators be used as sustainability assessment tools?
First, the users want to make their choices, with a configuration they can be guided to use more sustainable options. Moreover, though configurators it is possible to automatically generate comparative sustainability reports and also climate declarations according to the relevant standards. This is possible though the configurator’s knowledge base which contains information on the products, but also now all the information on the life cycle properties of any product. This information is still hard to find within some manufacturing companies but will become more easily accessible due to upcoming legislation.
https://youtu.be/41IUk4Qws0Q
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A win for transparency and smarter choices