An Environmentally Conscious Decision Support System for Life‐Cycle Management

Summary An Internet-based environmentally conscious decision support tool (EcoDS) has been developed for life-cycle management EcoDS involves an initial vertical streamlining step, where the significant life-cycle stages, stressors, and impact categories are selected and cross-correlated. Because the streamlining is performed prior to the inventory, the approach expedites data collection. Comparisons among alternative product designs or manufacturing processes are based on two metrics: financial risk (or cost) and “residual” risk. For purposes of evaluation these two indicators are individually aggregated using a user or organization-specified value system. A salient feature of EcoDS is that this output can be condensed into a single summary matrix akin to a hybrid pro forma income statement and environmental balance sheet. The clear delineation between the tradeoffs involved in each alternative facilitates decision making by upper management. A case study on painting attematives is presented to illustrate the methodology