ME 4171 - Environmentally Conscious Design & Manufacturing

1. ME 4171 - Environmentally Conscious Design & Manufacturing Dr. Bert Bras

2. What is this class about? • Objective: To provide mechanical engineering students and others interested in engineering design and manufacture a view of how the environmental impact of engineering systems can be reduced. • The course is designed to give you an opportunity to learn about environmentally conscious design and manufacture, the growing national and international efforts in reducing the environmental impact of products, and how the environmental considerations affect the design’s technical, economical and quality requirements. • Understanding is fostered by various hands-on assignments. • You should be able to use the knowledge gained in this course in practical design and manufacture situations.

3. Tentative Outline (see Syllabus) • Environmental impact, reduction and approaches • Pollution Prevention • ECDM, DFE approaches and guidelines • Design for Recycling • Design for Remanufacture • Eco-labels • Life-Cycle Assessment • Life-Cycle Costing • ISO 14000 • Sustainable Development

4. Why? The focus of engineering design has primarily been on achieving superior products from a technical, economical and quality perspective. However, there is an increasing awareness of the effects of technological advances on the environment. Note: Environment does not have to refer only to the global, natural environment. The phrase "environment" can also include the close proximity (user) environment of a technical system.

5. Typical questions that we will focus on 1) what exactly is the impact of technical systems on the environment? (and how can we measure it?) 2) how can this impact be reduced? 3) what tools are needed/available to support the preceding? Furthermore: Is Environmentally Conscious Design and Manufacture profitable (in terms of dollars)?