Short answer
When designing with additive manufacturing, consider the full environmental, economic, and social impact across the entire product lifecycle, and ensure the quality of the printed part is factored into sustainability evaluations.
- Field
- Resource Management
- Source
- Journal of Manufacturing Systems (2023)
- Method
- Systematic Literature Review
- Evidence
- Moderate effect
A comprehensive review of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies on additive manufacturing (AM) indicates a need to broaden the scope beyond environmental impacts to include economic and social dimensions, and to consider post-manufacturing stages and product quality. This resource management research insight is drawn from a 2023 study published in Journal of Manufacturing Systems. Using Systematic literature review, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: When designing with additive manufacturing, consider the full environmental, economic, and social impact across the entire product lifecycle, and ensure the quality of the printed part is factored into sustainability evaluations.
Life Cycle Assessment of Additive Manufacturing Reveals Gaps in Sustainability Evaluation
A comprehensive review of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies on additive manufacturing (AM) indicates a need to broaden the scope beyond environmental impacts to include economic and social dimensions, and to consider post-manufacturing stages and product quality.
Journal of Manufacturing Systems · 2023
Key Findings
- 01Existing LCA studies on AM often focus narrowly on environmental impacts, neglecting economic and social dimensions.
- 02Post-manufacturing life cycle stages (e.g., use, end-of-life) are frequently excluded from AM sustainability assessments.
- 03The influence of AM part quality and mechanical performance on overall sustainability is not adequately addressed.
- 04Certain AM technologies and materials remain under-researched in terms of their life cycle impacts.
- 05There is a need for predictive models for environmental impact and cost, and integration of quality metrics into sustainability assessments.
Application
Design takeaway
When designing with additive manufacturing, consider the full environmental, economic, and social impact across the entire product lifecycle, and ensure the quality of the printed part is factored into sustainability evaluations.
How to apply
When selecting an AM process for a new product, conduct a preliminary LCA that considers not only energy consumption and material waste but also potential economic benefits, social implications, and the expected performance and lifespan of the final part.
Project actions
- 01When evaluating AM for your design project, go beyond just energy use and material waste.
- 02Consider the economic costs and any social benefits or drawbacks of using AM.
- 03Think about the entire life of your product, from creation to disposal.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of LCA research in AM.
- +Identifies specific shortcomings and proposes clear future research directions.
Limitations
It can be difficult to gather accurate data for all stages of the life cycle, especially for newer AM technologies or for post-manufacturing phases like product use and end-of-life.
Reliability & validity
The reliability of the findings is strengthened by the systematic review methodology, which aims to be exhaustive and objective. Validity is supported by the analysis of a large number of relevant studies. However, the validity of specific LCA findings within the reviewed papers can vary based on the quality of the original data and methodologies used.
Think critically
Given the identified gaps in LCA for AM, how can designers proactively incorporate economic and social considerations, as well as post-manufacturing impacts, into their design process even when comprehensive data is unavailable?
Design Principles
"Holistic Life Cycle Assessment for Additive Manufacturing: Evaluate environmental, economic, and social impacts from raw material to end-of-life, integrating product performance and quality."
Understanding the full life cycle impact of AM processes is crucial for making informed design and manufacturing decisions. Focusing solely on environmental aspects can lead to suboptimal choices that may not be economically viable or socially responsible.
What This Means for Your Design
When you 3D print something, it's not just about how much energy it uses or waste it makes. You also need to think about how much it costs, how it affects people, and what happens to it after you're done using it. The quality of the printed part also matters for its overall impact.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use the findings to justify the selection of a particular manufacturing process by discussing its broader life cycle impacts.
- 2.Identify gaps in your own research by acknowledging that a full triple-bottom-line assessment might be beyond the scope of your project, but is an important consideration.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
The review by Kokare et al. (2023) highlights that current Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies for additive manufacturing (AM) often focus narrowly on environmental impacts, neglecting crucial economic and social dimensions, as well as post-manufacturing stages and the influence of product quality. This suggests that a comprehensive evaluation of AM's sustainability potential requires a broader, triple-bottom-line approach that integrates these often-overlooked factors.
Source
Journal of Manufacturing Systems
Life cycle assessment of additive manufacturing processes: A review
journal · 2023
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about life cycle assessment of additive manufacturing reveals gaps in sustainability evaluation?
- When designing with additive manufacturing, consider the full environmental, economic, and social impact across the entire product lifecycle, and ensure the quality of the printed part is factored into sustainability evaluations. Evidence: Journal of Manufacturing Systems (2023).
- Why does "Life Cycle Assessment of Additive Manufacturing Reveals Gaps in Sustainability Evaluation" matter for design?
- Understanding the full life cycle impact of AM processes is crucial for making informed design and manufacturing decisions. Focusing solely on environmental aspects can lead to suboptimal choices that may not be economically viable or socially responsible.
- How can designers apply this research?
- When designing with additive manufacturing, consider the full environmental, economic, and social impact across the entire product lifecycle, and ensure the quality of the printed part is factored into sustainability evaluations.
- What were the main findings?
- Existing LCA studies on AM often focus narrowly on environmental impacts, neglecting economic and social dimensions.. Post-manufacturing life cycle stages (e.g., use, end-of-life) are frequently excluded from AM sustainability assessments.. The influence of AM part quality and mechanical performance on overall sustainability is not adequately addressed.. Certain AM technologies and materials remain under-researched in terms of their life cycle impacts.
- What research method was used?
- Systematic Literature Review.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2023 journal from Journal of Manufacturing Systems.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When selecting an AM process for a new product, conduct a preliminary LCA that considers not only energy consumption and material waste but also potential economic benefits, social implications, and the expected performance and lifespan of the final part.
- What are the limitations?
- The review is based on existing published literature, which may have its own inherent biases or gaps. Some AM technologies are under-represented in the reviewed studies.