Environmental impact evaluation of manufacturing processes

Abstract

Environmental issues are increasingly important within the manufacturing sector. Regulations and social pressures become the prime movers in improving the environmental friendliness of manufacturing operations. This thesis proposes a model to evaluate the environmental impact of manufacturing processes. The model uses the potency factor approach to classify environmental impacts into five ecological health impact categories and uses their toxicological, cancer, and physical effects as the basis to rate the seven categories of human health impacts. The model adopts a hierarchical approach, and uses the five impact categories related to ecological health and the seven categories related to human health to form the basis of the evaluation hierarchy. The calculated impact scores are being presented at every level of the hierarchy. The model also generates a single score for the overall environmental impact. This single score system helps to identify, among all the viable processes, which is the most environmentally friendly process. The model, with its evaluation results presented at every level of the hierarchy, is proposed as a means for tracking, controlling, and improving the environmental performance of manufacturing processes. The model has been developed into a computer program that may be implemented through a client computer and a remote database server for a quick and easy way of measuring the environmental performance of manufacturing processes. The client computer provides a front-end application, while the remote database server provides centralized database services that are accessible to the various manufacturing sites regardless of their geographical locations. The model can also act as a decision making tool for managers, process engineers and designers. A decision algorithm is presented to depict how an organization may use the model as a tool for tracking, controlling, and improving the environmental friendliness of its manufacturing processes. The concept of the algorithm is elucidated by a printed circuit board case study. A printed circuit board case study is used to show the effectiveness and applicability of the model, and to give an environmental performance evaluation to the electroless copper process. The case demonstrates how the model can identify what and where the environmental problems are, and hence appropriate remedy actions can be taken.

Date of Award	3 Oct 2001
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	City University of Hong Kong
Supervisor	Ip Kee HUI (Supervisor)