NDLI: A Framework for the Integration of System Engineering and Functional Analysis Techniques to the Goal and Scope of Life Cycle Assessment

Content Provider	The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Digital Collection
Author	Esterman, Marcos Maria, E. Fumagalli Thorn, Brian Babbitt, Callie
Copyright Year	2012
Abstract	With the increased concern over the impact that product and processes have on the environment several tools for environmental impact assessment have been developed. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is perhaps the most broadly known and used. The use of LCA is common in industry and there is a growing interest to improve the approach since several unresolved problems have been identified with its use. One important issue to resolve is the proper definition of the functional unit. The stated primary goal of the functional unit in LCA is to ensure comparability of LCA results; however, when reviewing the literature, LCA practitioners remark that comparing LCA studies is a very difficult task. The attributed reasons for this problem are the lack of standardized assumptions and practices, including the definition of the functional unit. Even though several unresolved problems present in LCA have had solutions proposed, a clear and actionable solution to the specific problem of functional unit definition is still not available. This paper will introduce system engineering and functional analysis concepts to the goal and scope definition phase of LCA in order to provide a framework for system definition, system boundary definition, and reference flows identification. System engineering principles and functional analysis have been extensively used to aid the design process, yet these approaches have not been effectively applied to the LCA domain. The benefits associated with the proposed framework include improved comparability of LCAs, dynamic updating of LCAs, and the integration of LCA into early stage product development.
Sponsorship	Design Engineering Division Computers and Information in Engineering Division
Starting Page	777
Ending Page	787
Page Count	11
File Format	PDF
ISBN	9780791845042
DOI	10.1115/DETC2012-71145
Volume Number	Volume 5: 6th International Conference on Micro- and Nanosystems; 17th Design for Manufacturing and the Life Cycle Conference
Conference Proceedings	ASME 2012 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference
Language	English
Publisher Date	2012-08-12
Publisher Place	Chicago, Illinois, USA
Access Restriction	Subscribed
Subject Keyword	Life cycle assessment Design Functional analysis Product development Systems engineering Flow (dynamics)
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article

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1	Ministry of Education (GoI), Department of Higher Education	Sanctioning Authority	https://www.education.gov.in/ict-initiatives
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