Quality Life Cycle Assessment in Sustainable Product Development (Routledge Research in Product Design)

This groundbreaking book introduces the Quality Life Cycle Assessment (QLCA) model – a novel approach that integrates product quality assessment and life cycle assessment (LCA) in sustainable manufacturing.

By incorporating environmental criteria alongside quality considerations during the virtual prototyping phase, the QLCA model revolutionizes decision-making for sustainable product development. This book bridges the gap between product improvement and LCA application, addressing the critical need for sustainability in modern manufacturing. Leveraging digital technologies such as Big Data, Data Analytics, and Digital Twin, this book demonstrates how to construct virtual product models with comprehensive LCA integration. The QLCA model, particularly suited for smart factories, supports innovation and informed decision-making in sustainable product development.

Aimed at students, research and development managers, and engineers, this volume offers practical guidance on balancing customer satisfaction with environmental impact throughout a product's life cycle. By elucidating the application of LCA in product life cycle assessment and its combination with quality considerations during prototyping, this book provides invaluable insights for practitioners navigating the complexities of sustainable manufacturing in the digital age.

Bożena Gajdzik is Associate Professor at the Department of Industrial Informatics at the Silesian University of Technology (Poland). Her research focuses on production economics and engineering, with particular emphasis on the steel industry and its producers. She has been listed in Stanford University's ranking of the world’s top 2% scientists.

Radosław Wolniak is Full Professor at the Department of Economics and Informatics at the Silesian University of Technology (Poland). For over two decades, he has been dealing with the issues of quality management, Industry 4.0, and Smart City. He has been listed in Stanford University's ranking of the world’s top 2% scientists.

Dominika Siwiec is Assistant Professor at the Department of Machine Technology and Production Engineering at the Rzeszow University of Technology (Poland). Her research focuses on predicting product quality and life cycle sustainability assessment. She has been listed in Stanford University's ranking of the world’s top 2% scientists.

Remigiusz Gawlik is Associate Professor at the Department of Public Management at the Krakow University of Economics (Krakow, Poland) and Extraordinary Associate Professor at North-West University Business School (Potchefstroom, South Africa). He was a member of the Editorial Team of the scientific journal Entrepreneurial Business and Economics Review (2013-2021).

Andrzej Pacana is Full Professor of the Rzeszow University of Technology and Vice-Dean for education at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Aviation of the Rzeszow University of Technology (Poland). His research focuses on process improvement in production engineering. He has been listed in Stanford University's ranking of the world’s top 2% scientists.