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Utilizing requirements to support sustainable product development: Introductory approaches for strategic sustainability integration
Blekinge Institute of Technology, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Strategic Sustainable Development.ORCID iD: 0000-0003-0813-3193
2019 (English)Licentiate thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

The attention to sustainability impacts arising during the lifecycle of products is growing as industry wants to increase its contribution to a sustainable society. To do so, companies must find ways to navigate the complexity of the needs within the socio-ecological system in which they operate. In engineering design projects, the interpretation of needs into requirements is essential, as they represent the collective understanding of the design problem to be solved. Ideally, requirements are possible to verify and validate, which makes it challenging for industry to integrate socio-ecological considerations, often based on qualitative models, into requirements. Sustainability then tends not to be prioritized in trade-offs with traditionally identified requirements for engineering design.

A qualitative research approach within design research methodology framed a sequence of studies guided by the research question ‘How can requirements be utilized to support Sustainable Product Development?’ First, a research gap was identified from a literature review which indicated a lack of socio-ecological systems contextualization in the identification, as well as the traceability of sustainability criteria to integrate into requirements. Secondly, a conceptual model was established for how management of requirements can be improved to facilitate traceability, as well as how contextual socio-ecological systems perspective can be introduced in the selection, of sustainability criteria for engineering design projects. For this purpose, the results from a multiple-case study based on semi-structured interviews with seven design and manufacturing companies was triangulated with findings of an in-depth literature analysis. Five key elements of management of sustainability in requirements were proposed in a profile model corresponding to different levels of sustainability maturity. A third study explored, based on literature and prototype causal loop diagramming, the potential of a group model building approach to enhance contextual understanding of strategically identified, i.e., company-tailored, sustainability criteria in relation to traditional requirements in early phases of the product innovation process. A final study investigated how a strategic sustainability perspective can be integrated with engineering design methods and value modelling to create a decision support for concept selection.

The studies together indicate that key constituents of good requirements, traceability and systems contextualization, can be achieved also for socio-ecological sustainability considerations. This requires organizational commitment and will be reflected in the design of the operational management system for their product innovation process. Following the proposed five key elements of sustainability integration in requirements, a company is expected to increase the organizational sustainability maturity, and hence its capability to contribute to a sustainability transition. This research also shows that there is a gap in current methods and tools for enhanced socio-ecological systems contextualization. The two last studies of this thesis give promising approaches of tools and methods to be further developed and analyzed, namely group model building, system analysis and value modelling.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Karlskrona: Blekinge Tekniska Högskola, 2019. , p. 63
Series
Blekinge Institute of Technology Licentiate Dissertation Series, ISSN 1650-2140 ; 2019:14
Keywords [en]
Strategic sustainable development, sustainable product development, sustainable product design, sustainability integration, sustainability requirements management
National Category
Other Mechanical Engineering Social Sciences Interdisciplinary
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:bth-18807ISBN: 978-91-7295-388-8 (print)OAI: oai:DiVA.org:bth-18807DiVA, id: diva2:1368451
Presentation
2019-12-09, J1650, BTH, Campus Gräsvik, Karlskrona, 09:30 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Part of project
Model Driven Development and Decision Support – MD3S, Knowledge FoundationAvailable from: 2019-11-07 Created: 2019-11-07 Last updated: 2021-01-18Bibliographically approved
List of papers
1. Integrating Sustainability in Product Requirements
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Integrating Sustainability in Product Requirements
2018 (English)In: Proceedings of International Design Conference, DESIGN, The Design Society, 2018, Vol. 3, p. 1405-1416Conference paper, Published paper (Refereed)
Abstract [en]

Trade-offs between sustainability criteria and engineering design variables can lead to sub-optimisations and costly short-term priorities. This study explores how sustainability requirements can be identified and integrated in product requirements to guide strategic and tactical decisions in product development including sustainability perspectives. Literature review and action research resulted in a proposed systematic approach that: define sustainability criteria and indicators; use correlation analysis with QFD; and adds identified specific sustainability requirements to requirement list.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
The Design Society, 2018
Keywords
sustainability, requirements management, early design phase, product development DOWNLOAD
National Category
Other Engineering and Technologies not elsewhere specified
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:bth-16718 (URN)10.21278/idc.2018.0377 (DOI)9789537738594 (ISBN)
Conference
15th International Design Conference, DESIGN 2018; Dubrovnik, May 21 2018
Funder
Knowledge Foundation
Note

open access

Available from: 2018-07-03 Created: 2018-07-03 Last updated: 2024-09-23Bibliographically approved
2. Profile model for management of sustainability integration in engineering design requirements
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Profile model for management of sustainability integration in engineering design requirements
2020 (English)In: Journal of Cleaner Production, ISSN 0959-6526, E-ISSN 1879-1786, Vol. 247, no 119155, article id 119155Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

This research provides insights into how sustainability considerations in engineering product design can be addressed through early stages of requirement management processes. Five key elements for successful implementation of sustainable product development from a requirement management perspective are presented, demonstrating how organisational sustainability maturity can be linked to the design and structure of a company’s operational management system. Through a thematic analysis of fifteen interviews with representatives from seven Swedish product developing-and manufacturing companies, critical activities and roles, examples of methods and tools utilisation and implementation, together with challenges and opportunities were identified. This empirical data was used to develop, test and refine a model in which key characteristics of sustainable product design and engineering design were coupled, resulting in a profile model for management of sustainability in requirements. Product developing companies can use the profile model as guidance towards necessary actions that enhance organisational sustainability maturity. Motivated by a low uptake rate of sustainability design tools in industry, this study brings attention to organisational capabilities for successful implementation of sustainable product development. As a lack of traceability is a potential cause, strategic socioecological contextualisation of needs is suggested to improve the chain of decision making in engineering design projects. The guiding research question was ‘What are sustainability requirements and how are they identified and managed in design projects?’. The main contribution is a proposed conceptualised model that aims to support design teams to identify and manage sustainability in requirements for engineering design projects. Future studies will test and validate the model.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier, 2020
Keywords
sustainable product development; sustainable design; requirement management; traceability, sustainability maturity
National Category
Other Mechanical Engineering
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:bth-18805 (URN)10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.119155 (DOI)000505696700072 ()
Available from: 2019-10-30 Created: 2019-10-30 Last updated: 2022-03-09Bibliographically approved
3. Addressing Sustainability in Product Requirements: a Systems Perspective
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Addressing Sustainability in Product Requirements: a Systems Perspective
2018 (English)In: Proceedings of NordDesign: Design in the Era of Digitalization, NordDesign 2018, The Design Society, 2018Conference paper, Published paper (Refereed)
Abstract [en]

Lack of sustainability considerations in product development can lead to unintended consequences that are costly in the long run, and difficult to solve. Furthermore, the sustainability performance of a solution is predominately determined by decisions in the early phases of the design process, in which requirements are formed and which plays an essential role to guide and constrain innovation. The purpose of this paper is therefore to explore possibilities to address previously identified research gaps regarding i) the importance and challenges to integrate sustainability aspects into design requirements, and ii) the need of a strategic approach based on a full socio-ecological sustainability perspective to select which sustainability criteria to integrate. The aim is to investigate how the influence of sustainability aspects on traditional design variables may be modelled using systems thinking, e.g., System Dynamics modelling, as previous research has pointed out this as an area for future research. Against this background this paper explores the potential of a systems thinking perspective within requirements development, and how it can be applied, to favour a strategic sustainability perspective in product development. A conceptual literature review covering systems engineering, requirements engineering and systems dynamics, was conducted to analyse which phase in the requirements development that could benefit from systems thinking to promote a strategic integration of sustainability criteria into the requirement list. The results point towards the domain between stakeholder requirements and functional requirements, to allow building of a shared understanding the full design decision context that can be cascaded through the requirement levels. Furthermore, a systems analysis model can clarify which requirements that are involved in trade-offs and how. In addition, more detailed requirements imply less space for innovation. One outcome of the paper is a simplified causal loop diagram, showing how a systems’ modelling approach can help identify both traditional trade-offs between strategically identified leading sustainability criteria and traditional design requirements. Potential incentives for sustainable design decisions were identified. Future research will focus on improving and testing the suggested approach and investigate how sustainability criteria indicators can be linked to design value drivers.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
The Design Society, 2018
Keywords
Product Design; Sustainability; Sustainable Product Development; Systems Engineering; Systems Thinking; Causal Loop Diagrams
National Category
Other Environmental Engineering
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:bth-16973 (URN)9789176851852 (ISBN)
Conference
13th Biennial Norddesign Conference, NordDesign 2018; Linkoping; Sweden; 14 August 2018 through 17 August 2018
Available from: 2018-09-06 Created: 2018-09-06 Last updated: 2021-01-12Bibliographically approved
4. Decision support for re-designed medicinal products - Assessing consequences of a customizable product design on the value chain from a sustainability perspective
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Decision support for re-designed medicinal products - Assessing consequences of a customizable product design on the value chain from a sustainability perspective
2019 (English)In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Engineering Design, ICED, Cambridge University Press, 2019, p. 867-876Conference paper, Published paper (Refereed)
Abstract [en]

Despite advances in pharmacological research providing means for individually customized patient attribute treatments, the 'one-size-fits-all' paradigm remains. Customization is associated with cost increases and the value assessment of customized medicinal products shows upon a narrow economic focus. Inspired by value models, emerging in manufacturing industry research, this study suggests a novel methodology encompassing a full sustainability perspective, including the social, economic and ecological dimension, for design decision support for medicinal products. A concept screening matrix is adapted, using sustainability criteria as value indicators. The focus is to create value for the whole pharmaceutical value chain whilst keeping the core purpose of medicinal products, i.e. to bring societal benefits. An illustrative case study presents an application of the methodology on a commercial product for curing hypertension. The traditional product design for hypertension treatment is compared to a customized product design. Results indicate that a customized product design is preferable if value is to be created from a social or/and an ecological sustainability perspective.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Cambridge University Press, 2019
Series
Proceedings of the Design Society: DESIGN Conference, E-ISSN 2633-7762
Keywords
Personalized medicines; Product architecture; Sustainability; Sustainable product design; Decision making
National Category
Production Engineering, Human Work Science and Ergonomics Design
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:bth-18806 (URN)10.1017/dsi.2019.91 (DOI)2-s2.0-85079330387 (Scopus ID)
Conference
22nd International Conference on Engineering Design, ICED 2019, Delft, Aug 5-8 2019
Funder
Knowledge Foundation, 20180159Vinnova, 201800361
Available from: 2019-10-30 Created: 2019-10-30 Last updated: 2024-09-23Bibliographically approved

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