Automated LCA - A practical solution for electronics manufacturers?

Manufacturers in the electronics industry are faced with product shelf life counted in months (Goeing, 2004). Traditionally, this has made it very difficult to make a life cycle assessment (LCA) of a product, since the product would be obsolete by the time the LCA was completed. New concepts in LCA allow specialists in things other than LCA to rapidly create both a model and generate "what-if" scenarios that will allow even manufacturers of short shelf life products take advantage of the benefits of LCA. Results can be used internally for decision-making and can also enable manufacturers submit information for environmentally preferable purchasing, eco-labels, and so-on.