Ewa Dostatni

Application of agent technology for recycling‐oriented product assessment

Purpose – The paper aims to describe ideas and implementation of the computer tool for computer‐aided and recycling‐oriented design. Currently, there is a strong tendency to take into account the impact of a product on the natural environment. The authors concentrated on the issue of the recycling process of the product, taking into account the phase of its design. The purpose, structure, technology and example results are presented in this paper.Design/methodology/approach – It was assumed that analysis will be performed based on a set of measures of a product. These measures (developed by the authors), describing the product from the recycling point of view, are calculated automatically, according to the changes (variants) in the products model. The presented tool is based on agent technology. The structure of the system – the agents, its roles and communication between them – has been described.Findings – The main achievement of the work presented in this paper is the method supporting eco‐design base...

Multi-agent System to Support Decision-Making Process in Ecodesign

In the paper the application of multi-agent system to support decision-making process in ecodesign is presented. The ecodesign term is highlited either as the design problem or from the point of view of regulations. The structure of agent-system supporting the designer during the design process is showed. The basis of special kind of product model, that is the extension of standard 3D product model, called recycling-oriented product model (RmW), are described. The example results of analysis, based on real household appliance model, are presented.

Multi-agent system to support decision-making process in design for recycling

In this paper, the application of multi-agent system to support decision-making process in design for recycling is presented. The design for recycling term is highlighted either as the design problem or from the point of view of regulations. The structure of agent system supporting the designer during the design process is showed. The basis of special kind of product model, that is the extension of standard 3D product model, called recycling-oriented product model, is described. The example results of analysis, based on real household appliance model, are presented.

Ecodesign of Technological Processes with the Use of Decision Trees Method

It becomes increasingly complex to make decisions concerning environmental requirements at the product design stage. Any decision made at this stage may affect the environmental impact of the product. It is therefore necessary to provide new tools for product designers to help them in ecological design choices. This paper describes a new method for ecodesigning technological processes. The method was implemented in an expert system, and it supports process engineers in the development of eco-friendly technological processes. Decision tree induction method was used. The environmental approach to designing technological processes described in this paper is a new solution, and it automates the selection of materials and connections in the designed product.

The Use of Machine Learning Method in Concurrent Ecodesign of Products and Technological Processes

The article describes a new, original approach to integrated ecodesign of products and technological processes, ensuring appropriate selection of materials and connections from the point of view of recyclability. The method was implemented in an expert system. The decision tree induction method was used as the system tool. The expert system offers a practical solution which makes it possible to change a material or connection without having to consult the product designer. It is consistent with concurrent engineering (CE) design.

Decision Support on Product Using Environmental Attributes Implemented in PLM System

In the paper the problem of environmental product characteristics in Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems is undertaken. The general characteristics of PLM systems is presented. The issue of existence in PLM systems data concerning environmental product description is discussed. Because of lack of such data in typical PLM system, the set of environmental product attributes and their implementation in PLM system is presented. Potential ways of usage of these attributes in decision support concerning product are described.

Automation and Digitization of the Material Selection Process for Ecodesign

The research presented in this article focuses on the concept of Industry 4.0 developed in Poland and across the world. This concept applies, among others, to the broadly understood automation of processing, digitization and exchange of large volumes of data in production processes. It covers not only the manufacturing process, but the entire life cycle of the product. It applies to those areas of organization functioning, which are supported by intelligent systems facilitating decision making and automation that improves work efficiency. The method presented in the article automates the selection process of materials and connections at the product design stage, taking into account the recyclability aspects. It is an extension of earlier research by the authors in this area. The developed method has been extended with further parameters describing the properties of materials that are necessary when selecting appropriate construction materials at recycling-oriented product design stage. The method was developed with the use of the decision tree induction method for selecting environmentally friendly materials and connections allowing for high level of product recyclability. The method is a practical solution supporting ecodesign (at the stage of both construction and technology design). Thanks to the developed method, the material and material selection data are digitized and stored in the expert system.

Automation of the Ecodesign Process for Industry 4.0

One of the key aspects of Industry 4.0 is high automation of various processes conducted through product lifecycle. In the article the authors consider the issue of final stages of product lifecycle and the automation of product assessment from ecological point-of-view in the context of Industry 4.0. The automation of product assessment is conducted by set of measures, calculated from special type of product model called Recycling Model of Product, that is also showed in the paper. The Recycling Model of Product and the assessment are conducted using dedicated module, operating in CAD 3D system environment. The assessment of example product is presented in the paper as well.

Automatization of the Ecodesign Process of Small Household Appliances based on CAD 3D System

A new approach to product quality assessment taken by manufacturers integrates environmental aspects. Design for the environment, also referred to as ecodesign or sustainable design, is an innovative approach to the traditional design process. It focuses on compliance with ecological standards at an early stage of design in CAD 3D environment. In this paper, main objectives of the ecodesign process automation method based on a CAD 3D system are presented. The ecodesign process of a small household appliance is analyzed. The main features of a dedicated software application with a graphical interface, which runs independently of the CAD 3D system, are presented.

Product Variants Recycling Cost Estimation with the Use of Multi-agent Support System

The article describes research on recycling-oriented analysis during product ecodesign. The study was conducted using a proprietary agent system operating based on the recycling-oriented product model. The analysis focused on a household appliance: an electric kettle. The authors developed a project of a new appliance and then created its geometric model in a CAD 3D system. Next, analyses were conducted to compare the recyclability of the appliance with different material and joint combinations. A total of 16 different variants of the appliance were designed within the project. Each of them was evaluated for its recycling parameters and cost of recycling.