Title: Sustainability and product life cycle management – issues and challenges

Authors: Bert Bras

Addresses: Sustainable Design and Manufacturing Program, Systems Realization Laboratory, George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332-0405, USA

Abstract: It is beyond arguing that our society needs to move to sustainable development. To achieve this, engineering, business and policy have to change their thinking. In this paper, key concepts that need to be considered and adopted in order to make any progress to sustainability. Specifically, life cycle assessment, closed-loop material flows, user behaviour and systems modelling are highlighted as key issues. An example of systems modelling in the context of a transportation system is given to illustrate to potential of applying available modelling tools from the PLM community to sustainability.

Keywords: sustainable development; PLM; product lifecycle management; systems modelling; energy consumption; LCA; life cycle assessment; closed-loop systems; material flows; sustainability; user behaviour; systems modelling; transport system.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPLM.2009.031665

International Journal of Product Lifecycle Management, 2009 Vol.4 No.1/2/3, pp.23 - 48

Published online: 17 Feb 2010 *

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