Parametric life-cycle assessment for configurable products in high-mix manufacturing

Abstract

High-mix manufacturers face challenges in delivering product-specific environmental data at required time. Traditional life cycle assessment (LCA) is a post-hoc tool that requires intensive manual work in calculating product-variant impact. This study proposes a solution by developing and evaluating a parametric LCA that can generate product-specific environmental assessments when production orders are completed. Using a design science approach, the proposed solution is tested in pipe manufacturing which produces many product variants. The study methodologically contributes to modelling multi-process parametric LCA for various products using the product geometry and routing running time as main parameters. Moreover, the study also positions parametric LCA as a core methodology for product service system transition in which automated environmental data is considered as a service when bundled with physical products in high-mix manufacturing supply chains. The paper focuses on addressing the challenges of managing a wide variety of products and generating self-declared life-cycle analysis reports for each product variant. This solution is designed to develop the product configuration process using up-to-date software solutions that support order-handling processes in case-by-case situations for companies, while maintaining environmental sustainability.