Tolerance Optimization for Economic and Ecological Sustainability Using RD&T
Other conference contribution, 2013

Product developers choose tolerances to go along with every geometric dimension, and they typically do so based on how the tolerances influence variation in so-called “critical” dimensions of the final assembled product. A common decision-making approach is to minimize costs given some acceptable critical dimensional variation, but this strategy often conflicts with ecological sustainability objectives. This paper introduces a new approach to simultaneously considering the ecological and economic consequences of tolerances through a software tool that combines Robust Design and Tolerancing (RD&T) with Environmental Priority Strategies in product development (EPS). This allows designers to simultaneously assess the economic and ecological sustainability outcomes associated with geometry, material, and tolerance choices, and it is demonstrated through design optimization of an automotive part.

Author

Steven Hoffenson

Chalmers, Product and Production Development, Product Development

Andreas Dagman

Chalmers, Product and Production Development, Product Development

Rikard Söderberg

Chalmers, Product and Production Development, Product Development

Bengt Steen

Chalmers, Energy and Environment, Environmental Systems Analysis

6th International Conference on Life Cycle Management

Driving Forces

Sustainable development

Areas of Advance

Production

Subject Categories

Environmental Management

Reliability and Maintenance

More information

Created

10/7/2017