This diploma thesis deals with assessment of environmental load by selected plastic molding technology. The first part is focused on the ecological legislation in the field of mechanical engineering, which also includes the production of plastics, and describes various methodologies for assessing the environmental load. Another chapter is an overview of polymers and their properties as well as the possibilities of plastics processing with description of individual types of production methods. The practical part of this work describes the composition of the produced piece and the injection molding process of plastic production. Its two methods (direct gating and hot sprue method) are analyzed and then the environmental load evaluation is performed using the LCA method – product life cycle assessment. The environmental load of both production methods is assessed.

Einleitung Der Faktor Zeit nimmt in unserer heutigen Gesellschaft einen bedeutsamen Platz in den unterschiedlichsten Bereichen unseres Lebens und Wirkens ein. Beispielsweise verbreiten sich Nachrichten weltweit innerhalb von Minuten, Reisezeiten verkürzen sich von Tagen auf mehrere Stunden (Kurpjuweit 2013) und die Hersteller von Unterhaltungselektronik verkürzen die Produktlebenszyklen um neue Produkte schneller am Markt zu platzieren (Scheimann 2011). Die Reduzierung des Produktlebens ist bei vielen anderen Produkten des Konsum- und Investitionsgütermarktes festzustellen, da die Markteintrittsstrategie den möglichen Absatz des Produktes bestimmt (Meffert et al. 2008, S. 445f.). Der Erfolg eines Produktes ist jedoch eine Folge aus unterschiedlichen Aspekten, wobei die Zeit, neben der Qualität und den Kosten, einer der Hauptparameter ist. Demzufolge ist das Zusammenspiel dieser drei voneinander abhängigen Faktoren auch im Produktentwicklungsprozess zu berücksichtigen, um die geforderten Ziele zu erreichen (Burghardt 2013, S. 23). Diese werden durch den technologischen Fortschritt, die veränderten Bedürfnisse der Kunden und den internationalen Wettbewerb bedingt (Cooper 2010, S. 8ff.). Durch den Einsatz von strukturierten Produktentwicklungsprozessen können die Zielvorstellungen abteilungs- und aufgabenübergreifend berücksichtigt und kontrolliert werden. Anwendungsbeispiele für komplexe, aber systematische Produktentwicklungsprozesse sind in der Automobil- und IT-Branche zu finden (Braess 2013; Ruf & Fittkau 2008). Für die Produkte der Sicherheitstechnik muss bei der Entwicklung, Konstruktion und Fertigung jedoch ein Aspekt gesondert betrachtet werden – die Qualität. Es sind sehr hohe Anforderungen und Ansprüche zu erfüllen, die teilweise vom Gesetzgeber festgesetzt wurden, da die Sicherheit von Mensch und Maschine zu gewährleisten ist. Im Bereich des Explosionsschutzes, welcher als ein Teilgebiet der Sicherheitstechnik gilt, ist die Einhaltung von Richtlinien und Normen bei einer Produktentwicklung für den Markteintritt zwingend erforderlich. Neue Bauteile werden u.a. durch aufwändige Prüfungen von benannten Stellen erprobt. Diese Bedingungen beeinflussen den Produktentwicklungsprozess und die Konstruktionsmethodik im Explosionsschutz fundamental und charakterisieren den kosten- und zeitintensiven Vorgang durch aufwändige Iterationen (Träger et al. 2005).

Aus der Einführung: "Die Informationstechnik ist seit den Anfängen von CAD vor ca. 50 Jahren ein wesentlicher Impulsgeber für die Produktentwicklung und hat maßgeblichen Anteil an Prozessinnovationen wie dem Global Engineering oder der Digitalen Fabrik. Längst geht es aber heute nicht mehr allein um die Geometriebeschreibung zukünftiger Produkte, sondern um die möglichst umfassende Begleitung und Ergänzung des realen Produkts durch das virtuelle Produkt: von der ersten Idee bis zum Recycling. Die umfassende Vision des virtuellen Produkts als Pendant zum realen Produkt (Spur & Krause 1997) ist untrennbar mit dem Fortschritt der Informationstechnologie verbunden."

Yes / The paper contributes to development of RMS through linkage with external stakeholders such as customers and suppliers of parts/raw materials to handle demand fluctuations that necessitate information sharing across the supply chain tiers. RMS is developed as an integrated supply chain hub for adjusting production capacity using a hybrid methodology of decision trees and Markov analysis. The proposed Markov Chain model contributes to evaluate and monitor system reconfigurations required due to changes of product families with consideration of the product life cycles. The simulation findings indicate that system productivity and financial performance in terms of the profit contribution of product-process allocation will vary over configuration stages. The capacity of an RMS with limited product families and/or limited model variants becomes gradually inoperative whilst approaching upcoming configuration stages due to the end of product life cycles. As a result, reconfiguration preparation is suggested quite before ending life cycle of an existing product in process, for switching from a product family to a new/another product family in the production range, subject to its present demand. The proposed model is illustrated through a simplified case study with given product families and transition probabilities.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master Of Technology In Business Administration, Department of Entrepreneurial Studies & Management, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2016. / The phenomenal growth in the number of electronic devices in use has given rise to a huge increase in the volume of electronic waste (e-waste) generated. Electronic waste is comprised of toxic materials and chemicals, and if it is not disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner, it poses serious risk to the environment and to human health. The perceived limited knowledge about the harmful effects of e-waste and the potential economic benefit of e-waste recycling in South Africa motivated this study. The study area consisted of two large industrial parks in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal; namely, the Umbogintwini Industrial Complex and the adjacent Southgate Business Park. A total of 313 organisations are located within the study area, which is spread over approximately 550 hectares. Based on the findings of the study, it is estimated that the Umbogintwini Industrial Complex and the Southgate Business Park would generate approximately 593 tons of e-waste between the period 2015 and 2020, averaging approximately 119 tons per year. Although South Africa is classified as a developing country, it is the most developed country in Africa, and if one were to extrapolate the potential volume of e-waste generated for five years from the study area to the rest of KwaZulu-Natal’s industrial parks, then in five years, the province’s industrial parks would generate approximately 3 340 tons of e-waste. The study also revealed that there is no effective e-waste management strategy in place within the Umbogintwini Industrial Complex or the Southgate Business Park. A positive finding of the study was that the majority of the organisations surveyed were in favour of a proper e-waste management strategy at both the study sites, and would support the development of an e-waste recycling plant in this industrial zone. / M

En intégrant le cycle de vie d'un bien dans son processus de développement, l'éco-conception permet d'améliorer la performance environnementale de ce futur produit. La combinaison, dans cette thèse, des notions de la conception centrée utilisateur et de la pensée cycle de vie, permet de proposer une méthode pour l'intégration de la phase d'utilisation en éco-conception. La méthode repose sur la proposition de nouveaux modèles pour représenter l'utilisation adaptés aux spécificités de l'éco-conception. A partir du modèle de produit, un modèle de la phase d'utilisation, connectée aux phases de distribution et de fin de vie, permet d'associer l'utilisation du produit à son cycle de vie complet. Le modèle de contexte permet de positionner la performance environnementale du produit en utilisation par rapport à des paramètres associés à l'utilisateur et à l'environnement d'utilisation. L'évaluation environnementale du scénario d'utilisation regroupant tous ces modèles permet d'adapter les stratégies d'amélioration de la méthode à l'utilisation d'un produit en conception. Une application de la démarche à la re-conception d'un réfrigérateur pour la France et le Brésil permet d'illustrer le fonctionnement de la méthode. / By integrating product life cycle into the developement process, ecodesign enables the environnemental improvement of the product to be. The combination of user centred design proposition and life cycle thinking allows us to propose a method for use phase integration in ecodesign. This method is built on new models to represent product use that are compatible with ecodesign specificity. Based on the product model, the use phase model, which is connected to the distribution and end-of-life phases, facilitates the attachment of product use to the complete life cycle. Context model aims at possitionning the product use environmental performance according to influencing parameters related to the user and it environment. Environmental assessment is made based on the use scenario, a combination of the three previous models. This assessment enables to adapt the improvements strategies to the specificity of a product use phase. A case study has been perform to illustrate the capability of the new proposal to ecodesign a refrigerator for Brazil and for France.

A Gestão do Ciclo de Vida (LCM) pode ser entendida como uma abordagem para melhorar continuamente o desempenho em sustentabilidade da organização e de seus produtos e serviços por meio da incorporação do pensamento de ciclo de vida nas práticas de negócio. Entretanto, faltam instrumentos de gestão para auxiliar na sua operacionalização e implementação. Nesse sentido cabe destacar as possibilidades advindas da abordagem de Gestão por Processos de Negócio (BPM), que visa a reestruturação e otimização das atividades organizacionais. Este trabalho teve como objetivo identificar e analisar as relações entre essa duas abordagens, verificando as possibilidades de contribuições entre elas. Para isso foi conduzida uma revisão bibliográfica sistemática para identificar as definições e práticas de BPM e LCM, que foram utilizadas para a elaboração de definições de trabalho e para a análise das relações entre as práticas e os processos de negócio. Adicionalmente, foi realizado um estudo bibliométrico para identificar relações entre as duas áreas de pesquisa, a partir do qual é possível afirmar que não há referencial teórico compartilhado entre as duas áreas. Em contrapartida, os resultados da análise de publicações indicam que as práticas de BPM estão relacionadas com os processos de negócio e com o desempenho da organização, e que muitas práticas de LCM estão sendo aplicadas nos processos de negócio, havendo assim uma relação indireta entre as abordagens. Além disso, foram identificadas oportunidades de contribuição relacionados a teoria e prática dessas abordagens: BPM possui um conjunto de práticas para a gestão e melhoria dos processos com base no planejamento estratégico, enquanto LCM possui elementos e práticas que visam a sustentabilidade do ciclo de vida de produtos. / Life cycle management (LCM) is an approach for continuously improve the sustainability performance in organizations and its products through the incorporation of life cycle thinking in business practices. However, there are few management instruments to support this approach. Aiming to meet this demand, the purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship of LCM with Business Process Management, which aims at continuous improvement of organizational activities. A systematic literature review was conduct to identify BPM and LCM definitions and practices, which were used to define BPM and LCM and to analyze the relationship between practices and business process. Additionally, a bibliometric study was conducted to identify relationships between the two areas and its results shows that there are no conceptual framework shared between two. In constrast, the results indicate that BPM practices are related to business processes and organizational performance, and that many LCM practices are being applied into business processes, thus having an indiredt relationship between approaches. In addition, opportunities related to theory and practice are indentified: BPM has a set of practices for the management and improvement of process based on strategic planning, while LCM has elements and practices aimed at sustainability of the life cycle of products.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-25T16:45:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Lucia Lucena de A e Silva.pdf: 1053035 bytes, checksum: a595946dc61ec7813c28b0f2c9b7a8b5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-10-28 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The subjects sustainable development and climate change have become recurrent in our daily life and are no longer specific issues of scientists and researchers. Companies have begun to change many of their processes in order to meet environmental demands made by governments and consumers. Two points of major concern are: the way these goods are produced and the impacts they cause to the environment, society and economy. Based on the theories of Marketing, Consumer Behavior, Social Responsibility, Product Development and Analysis of Environmentally Product Life Cycle, it was possible to determine important issues for which a product is considered environmentally responsible. Understanding these concepts, a case study was made in the company Philips, in Brazil, and its line of products from Lighting Home. The objective of this study was to analyze and evaluate the concepts and practices, and to verify if the fluorescent lamps may or may not be considered green products / Os assuntos desenvolvimento sustentável e mudanças climáticas tornaram-se recorrentes no dia-a-dia de toda sociedade e não são mais exclusivos de cientistas e pesquisadores. As empresas passaram a modificar muitos de seus processos em função de exigências ambientais feitas por governos e consumidores. Dois pontos de grande preocupação são: a forma como os diversos bens de consumo são produzidos e os impactos ambientais que eles exercem no meio ambiente, na sociedade e na economia. Esta dissertação concentra atenções na importância do desenvolvimento de produtos e em seus ciclos de vida, levando em consideração os possíveis impactos provocados na natureza. Com base nas teorias do Marketing, Comportamento do Consumidor, Responsabilidade Social, Desenvolvimento de Produtos Ecologicamente Corretos e Análise de Ciclo de Vida de Produto, foi possível determinar aspectos importantes para que um produto seja considerado ambientalmente responsável. A partir da compreensão dos conceitos, estudou-se o caso da empresa Philips no Brasil e a sua linha de produtos de Iluminação Residencial e Decorativa a fim de analisar e avaliar os conceitos e as práticas, e se as lâmpadas fluorescentes podem ou não ser consideradas produtos verdes

Industrial companies that carry on innovation and operation must have well-organized and capable business systems and processes. Customer needs, market demands, global competition and technological changes drive the companies to be more adaptable, flexible and dynamic. By working in network structures as extended enterprises, the companies face new possibilities and new challenges. Design, manufacturing and delivery of high quality products to competitive prices to the customers are essential for industrial companies. Holistic view of the product life cycle from technology development, via product and business system development and realization, to business operation, is important for sustainable industrial companies. A company with engineering and manufacturing of products in a business context needs to have effective innovation of business system and process. Business innovation encompasses the area from business idea to business operation and includes customer demands and solutions. The main part of business innovation is development of the product platform including product and support structures. Product variants are created and realized by various configurations of products and production systems. The thesis is elucidating that business innovation can be carried out by working in a systematic and structured way and by utilizing engineering design theories and methods. The business models, based on a new theory with a new navigation tool for interactions, are describing which activities should be performed in business innovation with product platform development and product structuring. For companies in business with changes, innovations can create new markets and products. Well-managed and innovative companies have good possibilities to be competitive in a tough business environment. The creation of business innovation models has been carried out according to a hermeneutic research method. The research work followed the hermeneutic circle or spiral. The thesis introduces a new dimension to the design area, namely business innovation or engineering, corresponding to business design and development. Business innovation is also a new type of innovation, combining technological, product, process, market and organizational innovations in industrial companies. / QC 20100920

Closed-loop supply chains (CLSCs) that integrate the activities for reclaiming residual values in postconsumer products with the traditional forward supply chain activities are important from financial and environmental perspectives. This thesis develops models and analyses on three topics novel to the field of CLSC research with a goal of advancing knowledge about effective decision-makings in CLSCs. In the first part of the thesis, we study joint control of stochastic forward and stochastic reverse material flows in CLSCs. With an application to a CLSC where postconsumer products are collected for warranty service purposes, we demonstrate that the benefit of coordinating two production activities could be significant. We develop a model that can be used to obtain an effective inventory control policy for coordinating forward and reverse material flows. Through Monte Carlo simulation and global sensitivity analysis, we identify major influential factors that affect system's warranty cost savings performance. The results indicate that joint control of forward and reverse material flows greatly improves warranty cost savings performance as well as system's robustness to uncertainties. The second part of the thesis develops a differential game model for characterizing decentralized time-varying competitive decision-making in a CLSC. The differential game model is particularly useful for studying time-varying interactive decision-making in CLSCs that involve many stakeholders who pursue different objectives in forward and reverse production activities. We identify optimal prices and production strategies that evolve over time under fluctuating market demand. Also, the model provides a quantitative scheme that can be used to obtain an efficient apportionment of product recovery processes. The third part of the thesis describes the relationship among consumers' risk-aversion, product cannibalization of new products by remanufactured products, and growth of CLSCs through price optimization models. Whereas price is one of the most effective variables for managing market demand, previous CLSC research has mainly focused on operational problems without paying much attention on the interface between CLSCs and markets. We develop models that jointly determine optimal prices in forward and reverse channels considering consumers' willingness-to-pay (WTP) for remanufactured products, consumers' willingness-to-accept (WTA) for a buyback price, and consumers' risk aversion to uncertain quality perceptions. The results show that consumers' active participation in CLSC is an important factor for the viability and growth of a CLSC. Also, we show that companies can benefit from product remanufacturing although it may be accompanied by production cannibalization.