A Framework for the Integration of System Engineering and Functional Analysis Techniques to the Goal and Scope of Life Cycle Assessment

Abstract

With the increased concern over the impact that product and processes have on the environment several tools for environmental impact assessment have been developed. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is perhaps the most broadly known and used. The use of LCA is common in industry and there is a growing interest to improve the approach since several unresolved problems have been identified with its use. One important issue to resolve is the proper definition of the functional unit. The stated primary goal of the functional unit in LCA is to ensure comparability of LCA results; however, when reviewing the literature, LCA practitioners remark that comparing LCA studies is a very difficult task. The attributed reasons for this problem are the lack of standardized assumptions and practices, including the definition of the functional unit. Even though several unresolved problems present in LCA have had solutions proposed, a clear and actionable solution to the specific problem of functional unit definition is still not available. This paper will introduce system engineering and functional analysis concepts to the goal and scope definition phase of LCA in order to provide a framework for system definition, system boundary definition, and reference flows identification. System engineering principles and functional analysis have been extensively used to aid the design process, yet these approaches have not been effectively applied to the LCA domain. The benefits associated with the proposed framework include improved comparability of LCAs, dynamic updating of LCAs, and the integration of LCA into early stage product development.

Implementation of an Object-Oriented Life Cycle Assessment Framework Using Functional Analysis and Systems Engineering Principles

“…The consumption of the system out of the total life of the system is based on usage pattern. This fraction of life consumed is calculate with the help of Cumulative Damage Function (Fumagalli 2012).…”

“…"The application of the method to the sub functions will help in developing building block elements for LCA studies that can be integrated. This observation is important because it implies that the Object Oriented Paradigm can be applied to LCA" (Esterman et al 2012a).…”

“…Also, many of the tools reviewed did not effectively address the lack of standardized processes to perform LCAs. Relative to the efforts to use functional analysis concept in LCA, the work of Esterman, et al (2012a) is important because it gives a standardized methodology to integrate functional analysis with the LCA. Lastly, the literature was clear on the benefits of integrating modularity and object orientation into LCA, particularly to help in its integration into the early design environment.…”

“…The application of the framework presented in Esterman, et al (2012a) to a functionally decomposed system is an important step toward the development of an object-orientated LCA platform.…”

“… Define a methodology to systematically apply the framework to a simple product  Further our understanding of the implementation details and challenges of this approach  Apply the framework to a more complex electro-mechanical system  Suggest improvements to the methodology The standardized framework for the integration of functional analysis in LCA developed by Esterman, et al (2012a) was applied to the can opener. A methodology to create a detailed hierarchical decomposition, to identify reference flows and define use and system parameters was explained.…”