Sustainability in Industrial Production

Abstract

Process technology in the value added chains of textiles, electronics and building construction. Systematically approaches for environmental assessment, such as EMS, indicator systems, LCA and sustainability rating. Development of strategies for a sustainable processing in production and consumption, within technical and political frame conditions. Marketing and innovation of sustainable products.

Objective

Students shall get an insight to industrial production technology and the associated environmental impacts. Three types of value added chains (textiles and apparel, electronics and building construction) are analysed and compared. Differences as well as similarities in the structure of sourcing, economic and social life time duration as well as in consumption shall be perceived by the students. These parameters are adapted and applied in life cycle based modelling, based on industrial processes, in order to carry out an appropriate inventory and environmental assessment. Several methods and tools are presented for practical implementation in the project thesis (instead of exercises). Scientific assessment methods and operational systems in companies are valuated: their advantages, weaknesses and limits are identified. Ecological, economical and social impacts of global sourcing are discussed by means of individual case studies. Students shall be sensitized for legal and political frame conditions, and international requirements for environmental labelling of consumer’s goods shall be recognized. Engineers and scientist maintain a dialogue on innovative process technology, environmental impacts in companies. In the project thesis practical experience shall be gained from the lecture by means of application of computer software.

Content

• Terms and definitions for Sustainable Development in industry and society. • Life cycle thinking in the value added chains of textiles and apparel, electronics building construction. • Variations in life time duration and the use phase of the different products. • Overview on methods and system modeling for environmental assessment. • Environmental aspects in resource depletion for textile fibers, wooden products, metals and energy sources. • Sustainable process technology for substances, material and compounds. • Case studies on production technology for electronic compounds and textile finishing processes (products, processes, formulas, technologies, waste management). • Building construction: ecological standards, ecological materials, building structures and organization of the construction processes. • Sustainable Development institutionalized in management systems according to ISO (quality, environment, society, safety and occupational health, technology) and in business excellence according EFQM (European Foundation for Quality Mangement). • Methods and tools for environmental assessment in practice: LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) in production, product LCA. LCA results from case studies. • Sustainability in product development, marketing and sourcing strategies. Optimization of value added chains. • Global trade of textile and electronic products. • Legal compliance of electronic and textile products. • Consumer’s behavior (branding and labeling). Societal trends in comfort and other needs versus environmental problems. Environmental impacts of consumption: use phase, care and maintenance. The exercise part consists of industry visits (1/2 day) and a project thesis (single or in a team) with tuition by the docent.

Resources