Environmental impact analysus through the product life-cycle

Abstract

Consulta en la Biblioteca ETSI Industriales (7615)

[EN] This Master¿s Thesis has been elaborated in collaboration among the Management and Engineering department of Linköping University, the IPSE researching group, at Linköping University, and three small and medium size Swedish enterprises (Assalub AB, MJP AB and Storebro Maskinrenovering). Nowadays, fluctuation in customer requirements, technological development and global competition are factors that are constantly changing companies¿ philosophy . In addition, the enterprises realize the importance of the environmental issues. Since companies also realize that good environmental practices are completely necessary, more principles are being integrated into their quality programs. To reach that, new tendencies have come up and they opt for analysing the needs of consumers and fulfil them with a combination of products and services, and use this as basis for innovation. This new business promotes selling the utility instead of selling the product. By analyzing the environmental impact throughout the product life cycle of the companies participating in this thesis, it is shown what environmental policies are carried out and the adequacy of the integration of services. These companies are from various sectors, so their strategies to achieve their purpose are different. MJP AB is a company that develops and produces waterjet systems. Secondly, Storebro Maskinrenovering is focused on the reconditioning of machine tools, the manufacturing and stockholding of spare parts, and the sales and service of new machine tools. Finally, Assalub AB manufactures and markets equipment for handling of lubricants as well as centralised lubrication systems and components for these systems. At the beginning of the study, the author concentrates on acquiring a literature review in order to get a strong knowledge of the theoretical frame work. After that, the writer focus on the "question guide" concerning the life-cycle analysis which is used as a tool in the data collection. Visiting the companies and interviewing their managers, provided the majority of the information. The difficulties appear when the companies are not answering all the questions due to the lack of quantitative information. After this step, the author generates an analysis by comparing the data gathered, since conclusions and optimal solutions are extracted from these questions. Finally, the conclusions, recommendations and further research are presented.