Title: Eco-material selection assisted with decision-making tools, guided by product's attributes; functionality and manufacturability

Authors: Ahmad T. Mayyas; Mohammed A. Omar

Addresses: Automotive Engineering Department, Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research – CU-ICAR, 4 Research Drive, Greenville, SC 29607, USA. ' Automotive Engineering Department, Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research – CU-ICAR, 4 Research Drive, Greenville, SC 29607, USA

Abstract: This study proposes an eco-material selection approach assisted with decision-making tools namely; analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and quality function deployment (QFD). The study derives the material selection indices for an automobile's structural and closure panels based on each panel; manufacturability, functionality requirements (load bearing characteristics). Additionally, two constraints are mainly defined; the cost (economic aspect) and the environmental impact (using embodied energy and recyclability). The decision-making tools prioritise the derived metrics based on current original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) perspective. The developed approach is then applied to rank different lightweight material options for vehicular panels. This study has the potential to present a balanced scheme between technological, economic and ecological aspects of automotive body-in-white (BIW) design, and to be implemented in a life-cycle assessment (LCA) study.

Keywords: automotive body-in-white; BIW; design for sustainability; DFS; materials selection; decision making; product attributes; functionality; manufacturability; sustainable design; sustainable development; automobile industry; analytical hierarchy process; AHP; quality function deployment; QFD; environmental impact; eco-materials; life-cycle assessment; LCA; lightweight materials; vehicle panels.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMSI.2012.049955

International Journal of Materials and Structural Integrity, 2012 Vol.6 No.2/3/4, pp.190 - 219

Published online: 18 Sep 2014 *

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