Coupling reference modelling and performance evaluation for the effective integration of eco-design tools into the design process
In the current context, eco-design that focuses on the integration of environmental considerations into product development is becoming a major stake for many companies. It is, therefore, necessary to make eco-design tools available for product designers and for working situations in product development processes. While the research in the field proposes many tools, it nevertheless fails to consider their adequate integration into a given design process. To be successful, this integration requires: (i) a model of the specific design process in which the tools shall be integrated in order to identify how to integrate it and (ii) an evaluation of the effective use of a tool through its contribution to the performance of eco-design. To address these two requirements, we propose two models: first, a design process reference model that integrates environmental aspects and that is based on the principles of the ISO 19439 standard for enterprise modelling and the ISO/TR 14062 standard for eco-design; and second, performance evaluation based on the analysis of general studies on design performance and the exploitation of the GAMETH((R)) framework. The performance model proposed consists in evaluating the knowledge used and produced for each activity of the process model, according to seven criteria related to time, cost, quality and contribution to the design objectives. A real study case illustrates how the propositions made here can be applied.
reference model performance evaluation enterprise modelling eco-design process design engineering design for environment