An ARIZ-based life cycle engineering model for eco-design

Cleaner production issues require not only effective management and prevention but also a new design and engineering paradigm. This study presents an ARIZ-based life cycle engineering (LCE) model for implementing eco-designs of products. The aims of the proposed model are (1) to restructure a set of new product models through modular analysis of alternative attributes associated with the morphological approach; (2) to develop an effective assessment method that integrates the three dimensions of LCE analysis into a single decision support tool using the aggregation operator of weighted generalized means; and, (3) to search for improvement opportunities and refine preferred engineering options by means of the algorithm for inventive problem solving (ARIZ) methodology. The applicability of the ARIZ-based LCE model is demonstrated through a case study of an in-flight meal service. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.