Title: Total design control within the sustainable engineering design process

Authors: Anthony D. Johnson

Addresses: School of Computing and Engineering, The University of Huddersfield, Queensgate, Huddersfield, HD1 3DH, UK

Abstract: New engineering products require designing before manufacture, the driving fundamental for which is normally that of cost. The product must be able to be produced as cheaply as possible to increase the profit margin. It is increasingly important to consider environmental issues so that new products incorporate a 'low environmental impact'. The novel approach presented introduces the design function as the only function within the whole product creation process that can define, direct and apply the principles of sustainability. This paper reviews sustainability principles and enhances the design and manufacture model to encompass the whole life of the product from sourcing to disposal. The life cycle approach is well known but the novel sustainability approach presented considers six 'life phases' applying the principles of engineering design to each phase. The management concept has been developed of 'total design control' where it is the design function which controls and specifies all six life phases.

Keywords: sustainability; engineering design; total design control; embodied energy; whole life model; life cycle analysis; product life cycle; Bruntland; sustainable development; sustainable design; environmental impact; product design.

DOI: 10.1504/WRSTSD.2015.068191

World Review of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development, 2015 Vol.12 No.1, pp.5 - 28

Received: 26 Feb 2014
Accepted: 19 Sep 2014
Published online: 23 Mar 2015 *

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