Advantages And Disadvantages Of Life Cycle Analysis

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Problem 1: Based upon the readings, texts, additional literature search and discussions in class identify and elaborate on three advantages of performing life cycle analysis as a part of technological product design process. Then, contrast the advantages by listing and discussing three major disadvantages or challenges to performing life cycle analysis. Try and use literature to support your argument.
Solution1 :
Life cycle assessment of a product is a systematic technique that assesses various stages of the life cycle of the product. It takes into account all the operations that product needs to undergo before it is manufactured and then when it is used and finally disposed. LCA tries to do the evaluation in terms of the impact each process will have on the environment. LCA is a systematic and detailed approach considering all the inventory of the material that goes in making a product, it then evaluates the environmental impacts of all the material inputs in terms of releases and thereby helps the decision makers in making an informed decision.
Advantages:
LCA as a tool for Management & Policy Makers:
LCA helps the decision makers to evaluate the various alternatives available for a processes and products and thereby regulate the policies based on the documented study and metrics available through LCA. By having a quantification of impacts of various alternatives in terms of hazardous releases in air, land and water at various stages of life cycle a comparison can be made between two alternative products or rival products or processes. Since LCA is a detailed analysis, all the aspects of an impact of a process can be evaluated. For example if we are comparing two products, the amount of solid waste by one may be more than the ot...

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...he development of sustainable technologies in other regions or how these can be tied up in the various channels. There are developments in the cleaner and greener energy generation techniques like low-carbon energy generation, biofuels and other recent developments in the energy sector and how these may affect the motivations for cleaner and greener technologies may be included in the study of today’s day.

REFERENCES

http://www.eebguide.eu/?p=925 http://www.solidworks.com/sw/docs/SW2014_Datasheet_Sustainability_ENU.pdf http://www.stonecourses.net/environment/benelca.html http://www.epa.gov/sustainability/analytics/life-cycle.htm http://www.quantis-intl.com/life_cycle_assessment.php http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF02978456?no-access=true https://engineering.purdue.edu/cdesign/wp/?p=308
http://www.mel.nist.gov/msid/conferences/talks/kramani.pdf

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