Study
SustainabilityHigh ImpactStrong effect

Multi-generational component design requires a life-cycle costing framework for sustainable value creation.

Integrating life-cycle costing and evolutionary algorithms into the early design phase allows for a comprehensive assessment of sustainability across multiple product generations.

UKnowledge (University of Kentucky) · 2015

01

Key Findings

  • 01Early design decisions significantly impact the entire life-cycle cost and sustainability of a product.
  • 02A combined life-cycle costing and evolutionary algorithm approach can effectively evaluate multi-generational component sustainability.
  • 03The proposed framework can bridge the gap between total life-cycle information and traditional design processes.
02

Application

Design takeaway

Adopt a life-cycle perspective from the outset of component design, utilizing integrated tools to evaluate material choices for their multi-generational impact.

How to apply

When selecting materials for components expected to be part of a product line with planned upgrades or replacements, use life-cycle assessment tools and consider algorithms that can explore trade-offs over time.

Project actions

  • 01When choosing materials, research their full life cycle, including manufacturing, use, and disposal/recycling.
  • 02Consider how material choices might impact future product updates or repairs.
03

Method & Evidence

AimHow can a framework combining life-cycle costing and evolutionary algorithms support sustainable material selection for multi-generational components?
MethodFramework development and illustration
ProcedureDeveloped a framework that integrates life-cycle costing methodology with an evolutionary algorithm to assess the sustainability of multi-generational components. Illustrated the framework's implementation in a current engineering scenario.
ContextProduct design and engineering, focusing on material selection for long-life components.

Variables

IVMaterial selection criteria (e.g., recyclability, durability, embodied energy)
DVLife-cycle cost, environmental impact score across generations
CVComponent function, manufacturing process, expected product lifespan
04

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

  • +Addresses a critical gap in traditional design practice by focusing on multi-generational impact.
  • +Proposes a novel framework combining established methodologies (LCC) with advanced computational techniques (evolutionary algorithms).

Limitations

Gathering comprehensive life-cycle data for all material options can be challenging and time-consuming.

Reliability & validity

The reliability of the framework depends on the quality of the input data for life-cycle costing and the robustness of the evolutionary algorithm. Validity is supported by the logical integration of these components to address the research aim.

Think critically

To what extent can current design tools accurately predict the multi-generational impact of material choices, and what are the primary data challenges in achieving this?

05

Design Principles

"Design for longevity and iterative improvement by considering the full life-cycle cost and sustainability of materials across multiple product generations."

Traditional design processes often overlook the long-term environmental and economic impacts of material choices. This framework provides designers with the tools to make informed decisions that optimize sustainability and value creation not just for the initial product, but for its subsequent iterations.

06

What This Means for Your Design

Think about how your material choices will affect the environment and cost not just for the first version of a product, but for all the future versions too. Using special computer methods can help you figure this out early on.

How to use in your project

  • 1.Use the concept of multi-generational components to justify a longer-term perspective in your design project's material selection.
  • 2.Discuss how your chosen materials might impact future iterations or the product's end-of-life phase.
07

Add to My Project

08

Quick Cite

(2015). A Framework for Sustainable Material Selection for Multi-Generational Components. UKnowledge (University of Kentucky). Retrieved from https://designdex.org/study/3d75bb2d-b72b-4a43-ac6f-3e17d14f0522/multi-generational-component-design-requires-a-life-cycle-costing-framework-for-sustainable-value-creation

Paragraph starter

This design project adopts a multi-generational perspective, recognizing that initial material selection has significant long-term implications for sustainability and life-cycle cost. By considering the environmental and economic impacts across potential future iterations of the component, informed decisions can be made to foster sustainable value creation throughout the product's extended lifespan.

09

Source

UKnowledge (University of Kentucky)

A Framework for Sustainable Material Selection for Multi-Generational Components

journal · 2015

View source

Questions about this research

What does the research say about multi-generational component design requires a life-cycle costing framework for sustainable value creation?
Adopt a life-cycle perspective from the outset of component design, utilizing integrated tools to evaluate material choices for their multi-generational impact. Evidence: UKnowledge (University of Kentucky) (2015).
Why does "Multi-generational component design requires a life-cycle costing framework for sustainable value creation." matter for design?
Traditional design processes often overlook the long-term environmental and economic impacts of material choices. This framework provides designers with the tools to make informed decisions that optimize sustainability and value creation not just for the initial product, but for its subsequent iterations.
How can designers apply this research?
Adopt a life-cycle perspective from the outset of component design, utilizing integrated tools to evaluate material choices for their multi-generational impact.
What were the main findings?
Early design decisions significantly impact the entire life-cycle cost and sustainability of a product.. A combined life-cycle costing and evolutionary algorithm approach can effectively evaluate multi-generational component sustainability.. The proposed framework can bridge the gap between total life-cycle information and traditional design processes.
What research method was used?
Framework development and illustration.
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2015 journal from UKnowledge (University of Kentucky).
What should I do differently in my next project?
When selecting materials for components expected to be part of a product line with planned upgrades or replacements, use life-cycle assessment tools and consider algorithms that can explore trade-offs over time.
What are the limitations?
The framework's effectiveness may depend on the availability and accuracy of data for life-cycle costing and the specific evolutionary algorithm used. Future work is needed to integrate with existing design tools and databases.
Is there evidence that component design affects design outcomes?
The study found that by using a combination of life-cycle costing and evolutionary algorithms, designers can better understand and improve the sustainability of components over multiple product generations, starting from the initial design phase. Traditional design processes often overlook the long-term environmental a Source: UKnowledge (University of Kentucky) (2015).
Where does this life-cycle costing research apply?
Product design and engineering, focusing on material selection for long-life components. It sits within sustainability research on designdex.org.

Related research topics

component design design research · evidence on component design · does component design improve design outcomes · life-cycle costing studies for designers · component design and life-cycle costing findings · sustainability research evidence