Application of Bayesian decision networks to life cycle engineering in Green design and manufacturing

Environmental impact assessment of design and manufacturing decisions have received significant attention in the recent years. Researchers have not only focused on industrial waste minimization and chemical substitution in processes or products, but also on the effect of product design decisions on the environment during the manufacturing, in-use and end-of-life stages of the product. This research investigates the applicability of Bayesian decision networks to study the impact of design decisions on the life cycle performance, including environmental friendliness, of a product. Bayesian decision theory provides a normative framework for representing and reasoning about decision problems under uncertainty. A framework for integrated analysis of the product life cycle is presented. We discuss the specification of domain models for wide range of processes, such as manufacturing, recycling and disposal, an action model, and an utility model. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.