Idea generation and risk evaluation methods for life cycle planning

The early design phases, such as the planning and conceptual design phases, greatly affect the eco-effectiveness of a product. Therefore, it is crucial that the environmental aspects are taken into account in the early design phases. Our life cycle planning (LCP) methodology is intended to integrate quality, cost, and environmental aspects systematically in the early phases of eco-design. In this paper, a method of idea generation at the product level and a design risk evaluation method for concept evaluation are proposed. Their usefulness is demonstrated with an illustrative example. These new methods are then incorporated into our current LCP process, extending our LCP methodology and further increasing its usefulness in practical applications.