Enabling Cyber-Based Learning of Product Sustainability Assessment Using Unit Manufacturing Process Analysis

Abstract

Efforts to reduce product environmental impacts such as energy consumption and carbon footprint have received attention for many years, often driven by consumer pressure on companies to produce more environmentally friendly products. As the next generation of engineers who will take responsibility for advancing the sustainability of products, processes, and systems, engineering students need to become more familiar with the concepts of sustainable product design and manufacturing. Yet, educators are disadvantaged in training these students, and tools are deficient in assisting product sustainability assessments for manufacturing decision making by other non-experts. A manufacturing analysis module is introduced, which was developed under collaborative research titled, Constructionism in Learning: Sustainable Life Cycle Engineering (CooL:SLiCE). This CooL:SLiCE manufacturing analysis module provides an opportunity for non-expert students and engineers to investigate the impacts of product design changes on manufacturing processes and supply chain network configurations, e.g., selection of upstream processes, transportation routes, and transportation modes, from environmental responsibility perspective. One popular consumer product, a multicopter, is selected to demonstrate the module. The production of three hexacopter components are evaluated: the upper shell, lower shell, and propeller. The manufacturing analysis module enables non-experts to gain a better understanding of sustainable product design and manufacturing.