Research On Product Life Cycle Design Methods For Scheme Design Phase

Due to the rapid deterioration of ecosystems and depletion of natural resources, it is amust to shift from the "mass production, mass consumption, high pollution and end-of-pipetreatment" development mode to a more sustainable development mode which is focused on"source control" of environmental problems.Product life cycle design is one of the most effective source control methods ofenvironmental problems. It is a design methodology that considers various factors throughoutthe whole product life cycle during the design process. It aims to maximize the resourceutilization efficiency and minimize the environmental impacts through the product life cyclewhile fulfilling product functional and economic requirements.Scheme design is one of the most important phases of the whole product design process,as it greatly affects the product performance throughout its life cycle. Therefore, product lifecycle design in scheme design phase has crucial contributions to improve product lifeperformance. This research, which is part of the "Research Project on EnvironmentallyFriendly Product Design Based on Simulation and Genetic Algorithm (No.50775141)" fundedby National Science Foundation Grant of China, is focused on product life cycle designmethods in scheme design phase and its major efforts and contributions include:1. Framework of product life cycle design in scheme design phaseBy expansion of contexts of the Axiomatic Design Domain,"requirementdomain","function domain" and "concept domain" of product life cycle design isdefined. The realization of product life cycle design is described by reconstruction ofprojection between the three design domains. On the basis of theoretic analysis, it isproposed that life cycle design is to generate combined solutions of both product andlife cycle process which fulfills not only functional and economic requirements butalso environmental ones. Thus, core contents of life cycle design in scheme design phase are analyzed from perspectives of "product" and "life cycle process". Designprocess model consisting of "life cycle requirements analysis and design goaldefinition","product concept generation","life cycle process planning","productconcept green revision" and "product life cycle design evaluation", key designtechnologies and design information model to support life cycle design are thenproposed.2. Product life cycle design methods and technologies in scheme design phaseA comprehensive product life cycle design goal system is developed fromperspectives of sustainability. Life cycle design goal definition method based onrequirement analysis is then proposed. Close-looped product life cycle processscheming method based on product level life cycle strategy analysis and structuralelement level life cycle process option applicability analysis is presented to realizethe projections from life cycle environmental goals to life cycle process designsolutions. Product concept revision method based on green design principals andQFD is proposed to realize projections from environmental goals to product designsolutions.3. Evaluation of product life cycle scheme based on product life cycle simulationLife cycle simulation (LCS) as a powerful tool of describing and analyzingproduct life cycles can effectively handle the complexity and innovation of productlife cycle design. A product life cycle scheme evaluation method based on LCS isproposed in this research. First, a LCS input model which consists of sub-modes ofproduct, life cycle process and users is proposed based on identifying life cycledesign properties. It translates life cycle design information into LCS inputparameters. Second, a general life cycle simulation model of discretely manufacturedproducts is established based on discrete-event simulation theory. Elements ofproduct life cycle system are defined. Simulation strategies and output indicators areproposed. Simulation models of life cycle process including "manufacturing","use","maintenance","upgrade" and " recovery" are constructed and calculation modelof life cycle costs and inventory are formulated.4. Development of software prototype of product life cycle design and case study.In order to encourage applications of life cycle design methods, a softwareprototype of product life cycle design is developed. A case study of household refrigerator life cycle scheme design is conducted to verify the proposed methods.