Summary
The use of “End of the Pipe Technologies” as a solution for waste disposal has taken root in this country and is now widespread. Attempts at improvements have thus mainly focused on recycling products and production media in numerous areas and phases. A review of the entire lifecycle of such products and production media must be jointly carried out by all parties involved.
Within this project, foundries, automobile producers, lubricant manufacturers and waste disposal companies have joined forces. The aim is to develop practical planning instruments that make it possible for all partners in the value-added chain to evaluate and improve the environmentally relevant product and process data.
Results:
- The EQFD (Environmental Quality Function Development) incorporates the requirements of the various partners and designates product and process characteristics with environmental relief potential.
- The EFOIA (Environmental Fault Options and Influences Analysis) makes use of the new reference index "Cooperation factor" to work out the main requirements for inter-company cooperation.
- The EQFD and EFOIA provide options for improving the environmentally relevant effects of both products and processes. Finally, Environmental Target Costing provides transparency with regard to the monetary effects of product and process alternatives.
The method developed enables even small companies to integrate the follow-up costs (e.g. arising from reacceptance obligations or disposal regulations) into their calculations or to minimise them by taking corresponding measures as early as at the design stage of the product. The method is supported by a set of guidelines and a software application.
